"Why these gloomy forebodings?" said Marcellus. "Is death nearer to us than it was before? Are we not safe in the Catacombs?"
"Have you not heard, then?"
"What?"
"Of the death of Chrysippus!"
"Chrysippus! dead! No--how? when?"
"The soldiers of the emperor were led down into the Catacombs by some one who knew the way. They advanced upon the room where service was going on. This was in the Catacombs beyond the Tiber. The brethren gave a hasty alarm and fled. But the venerable Chrysippus, either through extreme old age or else through desire for martyrdom, refused to fly. He threw himself upon his knees and raised his voice in prayer. Two faithful attendants remained with him. The soldiers rushed in, and even while Chrysippus was upon his knees they dashed out his brains. He fell dead at the first blow, and his two attendants were slain by his side."
"They have gone to join the n.o.ble army of martyrs. They have been faithful unto death, and will receive the crown of life," said Marcellus.
But now they were interrupted by a tumult without. Instantly every one started upright. "The soldiers!" exclaimed all.
But, no; it was not the soldiers. It was a Christian; a messenger from the world above. Pale and trembling, he flung himself upon the floor, and wringing his hands, cried out as he panted for breath,
"Alas! alas!"
Upon the lady Caecilia the sight of this man produced a terrible effect.
She staggered back against the wall trembling from head to foot, her hands clenched each other, her eyes stared wildly, her lips moved as though she wished to speak, but no sound escaped.
"Speak--speak! Tell us all," cried Honorius.
"Pollio!" gasped the messenger.
"What of him?" said Marcellus sternly.
"He is arrested--he is in prison!"
At that intelligence a shriek burst forth which sounded fearfully amid the surrounding horrors. It came from the Lady Caecilia. The next moment she fell heavily, to the floor.
The bystanders hurried to attend her. They carried her away to her own quarters. There they applied the customary restoratives and she revived.
But the blow had struck heavily, and though sense and feeling returned, yet she seemed like one in a dream.
Meanwhile the messenger had recovered strength and told all that he knew.
"Pollio was with you, was he?" asked Marcellus.
"No, he was alone."
"On what errand?"
"Finding out the news. I was on one side of the street a little behind.
He was coming home. We walked on until we came to a crowd of men. To my surprise, Pollio was stopped and questioned. I did not hear what pa.s.sed, but I saw their threatening gestures, and at length saw them seize him.
I could do nothing. I kept at a safe distance and watched. In about half an hour a troop of Pretorians came along. Pollio was handed over to them, and they carried him away."
"Pretorians?" said Marcellus. "Do you know the captain?"
"Yes; it was Lucullus."
"It is well," said Marcellus, and he fell into a deep fit of musing.
CHAPTER XI.
THE OFFER.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
It was evening in the Pretorian camp. Lucullus was in his room seated by a lamp which threw a bright light around. He was roused by a knock at the door. At once rising, he opened it. A man entered and advanced silently to the middle of the room. He then disenc.u.mbered himself of the folds of a large mantle in which he was dressed and faced Lucullus.
"Marcellus!" cried the other in amazement, and springing forward he embraced his visitor with every mark of joy.
"Dear friend," said he, "to what happy chance do I owe this meeting? I was just thinking of you and wondering when we should meet again."
"Our meetings, I fear," said Marcellus sadly "will not be very frequent now. I make this one at the risk of my life."
"True," said Lucullus, partic.i.p.ating in the sadness of the other. "You are pursued, and there is a price on your head. Yet here you are as safe as you ever were in those happy days before this madness seized you. O, Marcellus why can they not return again?"
"I cannot change my nature nor undo what is done. Moreover, Lucullus, although my lot may appear to you a hard one, I never was so happy."
"Happy!" cried the other in deep surprise.
"Yes, Lucullus, though afflicted I am not cast down; though persecuted I am not in despair."
"The persecution of the emperor is no slight matter."
"I know it well. I see my brethren fall before it every day. Every day the circle that surrounds me is lessened. Friends leave me and never appear again. Companions go up to the city, but when they return they are carried back dead to be deposited in their graves."
"And yet you say you can be happy?"
"Yes, Lucullus, I have a peace that the world knows nothing of; a peace that cometh from above, that pa.s.seth all understanding."
"I know, Marcellus, that you are too brave to fear death; but I never knew that you had sufficient fort.i.tude to endure calmly all that I know you must now suffer. Your courage is superhuman, or rather it is the courage of madness."
"It comes from above, Lucullus. Once I was incapable of feeling it, but now old things have pa.s.sed away and all has become new. Sustained by this new power, I can endure the utmost evils that can be dealt upon me.
I expect nothing but suffering in life, and know that I shall die in agony; yet the thought can not overcome the strong faith that is within me."
"It pains me," said Lucullus sadly, "to see you so determined. If I saw the slightest sign of wavering in you I would hope that time might change or modify your feelings. But you seem to me to be fixed unalterably in your new course."
"G.o.d grant that I may remain steadfast unto the end!" said Marcellus fervently. "But it is not of my feelings that I came to speak. I come, Lucullus, to ask your a.s.sistance, to claim your sympathy and help. You promised me once to show me your friendship if I needed it. I come now to claim it."
"All that is in my power is yours already, Marcellus. Tell what you want."
"You have a prisoner."