ng lost her self-control. It was far too late, and when
the housekeeper came into the room and gladly volunteered to accompany
Melissa to the town, Praxilla threatened to rouse her brother, that he
might insist on their remaining at home; but at last she relented, for
the girl, she saw, would take her own way against any opposition.

The housekeeper had been nurse to Diodoros, and had been longing to
help in tending him. When she left the house with Melissa, her eyes were
moist with tears of joy and thankfulness.

CHAPTER X.

The Nubian boat-keeper and his boy had soon ferried them across the
lake. Melissa and her companion then turned off from the shore into
a street which must surely lead into that where the Christians dwelt.
Still, even as she went on, she began to be doubtful whether she had
taken the right one; and when she came out by a small temple, which she
certainly had not seen before, she knew not which way to go, for the
streets here crossed each other in a perfect labyrinth, and she was soon
obliged to confess to her companion that she had lost her road. In the
morning she had trusted herself to Andreas's knowledge of the town, and
while talking eagerly to him had paid no heed to anything else.

What was to be done? She stood meditating; and then she remembered the
spot where she had seen Caesar drive past. This she thought she could
certainly recognize, and from thence make her way to the street she
sought.

It was quite easy to find the street of Hermes, for the noise of the
revelers, who were to-night even more numerous than usual in this busy
highway, could be heard at a considerable distance. They must follow its
guidance till they should come to the little temple of Aphrodite; and
that was a bold enterprise, for the crowd of men who haunted the spot at
this hour might possibly hinder and annoy two unescorted women. However,
the elder woman was sturdy and determined, and sixty years of age; while
Melissa feared nothing, and thought herself sufficiently protected when
she had arranged her kerchief so as to hide her face from curious eyes.

As she made her way to the wide street with a throbbing heart, but
quite resolved to find the house she sought at any cost, she heard men's
voices on a side street; however, she paid no heed to them, for how,
indeed, could she guess that what they were saying could nearly concern
her?

The conversation was between a woman and a man in the white robe of a