But he withdrew it quickly, for from the impluvium arose the rattle of arms, and loud, confused noise.

Berenike threw up her head and lifted her hands as if in prayer.  Her bosom heaved with her deep breath, the delicate nostrils quivered, and the great eyes flashed with wrathful light.  For a moment she stood thus silent, then let her arms fall, and cried to the tribunes: 

“My curse be upon you if you forget what you owe to yourselves, to the Roman Empire, and to your dying friend.  My blessing, if you hold fast to what you have promised.”

She pressed their hands, and, turning to do the same to the artist, found that he had lost consciousness.  Johanna and Nemesianus had removed his hat and caracalla, to attend to his wound.

A strange smile passed over the matron’s stern features.  Snatching the Gallic mantle from the Christian’s hand, she threw it over her own shoulders, exclaiming: 

“How the ruffian will wonder when, instead of the living woman, they bring him a corpse wrapped in his barbarian’s mantle!”

She pressed the hat upon her head, and from a corner of the room where the brothers’ weapons stood, selected a hunting-spear.  She asked if this weapon might be recognized as belonging to them, and, on their answering in the negative, said: 

“My thanks, then, for this last gift!”

At the last moment she turned to the waiting-woman: 

“Your brother will help you to burn Korinna’s picture.  No shameless gaze shall dishonor it again.”  She tore her hand from that of the Christian, who, with hot tears, tried to hold her back; then, carrying her head proudly erect, she left them.

The brothers gazed shudderingly after her.  “And to know,” cried Nemesianus, striking his forehead, “that our own comrades will slay her!  Never were the swords of Rome so disgraced!”

“He shall pay for it!” replied the wounded man, gnashing his teeth.

“Brother, we must avenge her!”

“Yes—­her, and—­may the gods hear me!—­you too, Apollinaris,” swore the other, lifting his hand as for an oath.

Loud screams, the clash of arms, and quick orders sounded from below and broke in upon the tribune’s vow.  He was rushing to the window to draw back the curtain and look upon the horrid deed with his own eyes, when Apollinaris called him back, reminding him of their duty toward Melissa’s brother, who was lost if the others discovered him here.

Hereupon Nemesianus lifted the fainting youth in his strong arms and carried him into the adjoining room, laying him upon the mat which had served their faithful old slave as a bed.  He then covered him with his own mantle, after hastily binding up the wound on his head and another on his shoulder.

By the time the tribune returned to his brother the noise outside had grown considerably less, only pitiable cries of anguish mingled with the shouts of the soldiers.