’Yet so lenient was the senate, that had he but expressed his penitence, and scattered a few grains of incense on the altar of Cybele, he would have been let off.  I doubt whether these Nazarenes, had they the state religion, would be as tolerant to us, supposing we had kicked down the image of their Deity, blasphemed their rites, and denied their faith.’

’They give Glaucus one chance, in consideration of the circumstances; they allow him, against the lion, the use of the same stilus wherewith he smote the priest.’

’Hast thou seen the lion? hast thou looked at his teeth and fangs, and wilt thou call that a chance?  Why, sword and buckler would be mere reed and papyrus against the rush of the mighty beast!  No, I think the true mercy has been, not to leave him long in suspense; and it was therefore fortunate for him that our benign laws are slow to pronounce, but swift to execute; and that the games of the amphitheatre had been, by a sort of providence, so long since fixed for to-morrow.  He who awaits death, dies twice.’

’As for the Atheist, said Clodius, ’he is to cope the grim tiger naked-handed.  Well, these combats are past betting on.  Who will take the odds?’ A peal of laughter announced the ridicule of the question.

‘Poor Clodius!’ said the host; I to lose a friend is something; but to find no one to bet on the chance of his escape is a worse misfortune to thee.’

’Why, it is provoking; it would have been some consolation to him and to me to think he was useful to the last.’

‘The people,’ said the grave Pansa, ’are all delighted with the result.  They were so much afraid the sports at the amphitheatre would go off without a criminal for the beasts; and now, to get two such criminals is indeed a joy for the poor fellows!  They work hard; they ought to have some amusement.’

’There speaks the popular Pansa, who never moves without a string of clients as long as an Indian triumph.  He is always prating about the people.  Gods! he will end by being a Gracchus!’

‘Certainly I am no insolent patrician,’ said Pansa, with a generous air.

‘Well,’ observed Lepidus, it would have been assuredly dangerous to have been merciful at the eve of a beast-fight.  If ever I, though a Roman bred and born, come to be tried, pray Jupiter there may be either no beasts in the vivaria, or plenty of criminals in the gaol.’

‘And pray,’ said one of the party, ’what has become of the poor girl whom Glaucus was to have married?  A widow without being a bride—­that is hard!’

‘Oh,’ returned Clodius, ’she is safe under the protection of her guardian, Arbaces.  It was natural she should go to him when she had lost both lover and brother.’

’By sweet Venus, Glaucus was fortunate among the women.  They say the rich Julia was in love with him.’

‘A mere fable, my friend,’ said Clodius, coxcombically; ’I was with her to-day.  If any feeling of the sort she ever conceived, I flatter myself that I have consoled her.’