Separated from his companion the artificer, Sosia found himself in a narrow cell of oppressive heat and atmosphere, and lighted by several rank and flaring torches.

The animals, usually kept in different vivaria, or dens, were now, for the greater entertainment of the visitors, placed in one, but equally indeed divided from each other by strong cages protected by iron bars.

There they were, the fell and grim wanderers of the desert, who have now become almost the principal agents of this story.  The lion, who, as being the more gentle by nature than his fellow-beast, had been more incited to ferocity by hunger, stalked restlessly and fiercely to and fro his narrow confines:  his eyes were lurid with rage and famine:  and as, every now and then, he paused and glared around, the spectators fearfully pressed backward, and drew their breath more quickly.  But the tiger lay quiet and extended at full length in his cage, and only by an occasional play of his tail, or a long impatient yawn, testified any emotion at his confinement, or at the crowd which honored him with their presence.

’I have seen no fiercer beast than yon lion even in the amphitheatre of Rome,’ said a gigantic and sinewy fellow who stood at the right hand of Sosia.

‘I feel humbled when I look at his limbs,’ replied, at the left of Sosia, a slighter and younger figure, with his arms folded on his breast.

The slave looked first at one, and then at the other.  ’Virtus in medio!—­virtue is ever in the middle!’ muttered he to himself; ’a goodly neighborhood for thee, Sosia—­a gladiator on each side!’

‘That is well said, Lydon,’ returned the huger gladiator; ’I feel the same.’

‘And to think,’ observed Lydon, in a tone of deep feeling, to think that the noble Greek, he whom we saw but a day or two since before us, so full of youth, and health, and joyousness, is to feast yon monster!’

‘Why not?’ growled Niger, savagely:  ’many an honest gladiator has been compelled to a like combat by the emperor—­why not a wealthy murderer by the law?’

Lydon sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and remained silent.  Meanwhile the common gazers listened with staring eyes and lips apart:  the gladiators were objects of interest as well as the beasts—­they were animals of the same species; so the crowd glanced from one to the other—­the men and the brutes—­whispering their comments and anticipating the morrow.

‘Well!’ said Lydon, turning away, ’I thank the gods that it is not the lion or the tiger I am to contend with; even you, Niger, are a gentler combatant than they.’

‘But equally dangerous,’ said the gladiator, with a fierce laugh; and the bystanders, admiring his vast limbs and ferocious countenance, laughed too.

‘That as it may be,’ answered Lydon, carelessly, as he pressed through the throng and quitted the den.

‘I may as well take advantage of his shoulders,’ thought the prudent Sosia, hastening to follow him:  ’the crowd always give way to a gladiator, so I will keep close behind, and come in for a share of his consequence.’