ue, with a swift
movement, snatched the hood of the caracalla off Alexander's head, flew
at his throat with the fury and agility of a panther, and with much
presence of mind called for help. And Castor was strong too while
Alexander tried to keep him off with his right hand, holding on to
Agatha with his left, the shouts of the deaconess and her accomplice
soon collected a crowd. They were instantly surrounded by an inquisitive
mob, laughing or scolding the combatants, and urging them to fight or
beseeching them to separate. But just as the artist had succeeded in
twisting his opponent's wrist so effectually as to bring him to his
knees, a loud voice of malignant triumph, just behind him, exclaimed:

"Now we have snared our scoffer! The fox should not stop to kill the
hare when the hunters are at his heels!"

"Zminis!" gasped Alexander. He understood in a flash that life and
liberty were at stake.

Like a stag hemmed in by dogs, he turned his head to this side and that,
seeking a way of escape; and when he looked again where his antagonist
had stood, the spot was clear; the nimble rascal had taken to his heels
and vanished among the throng. But a pair of eyes met the painter's
gaze, which at once restored him to self-possession, and reminded him
that he must collect his wits and presence of mind. They were those of
his sister Melissa, who, as she made her way onward with her companion,
had recognized her brother's voice. In spite of the old woman's earnest
advice not to mix in the crowd, she had pushed her way through, and, as
the men-at-arms dispersed the mob, she came nearer to her favorite but
too reckless brother.

Alexander still held Agatha's hand. The poor girl herself, trembling
with terror, did not know what had befallen her. Her venerable escort
was a young man--a liar. What was she to think of the deaconess, who
was his confederate; what of this handsome youth who had unmasked the
deceiver, and saved her perhaps from some fearful fate?

As in a thunder-storm flash follows flash, so, in this dreadful night,
one horror had followed another, to bewilder the brain of a maiden who
had always lived a quiet life among good and quiet men and women. And
now the guardians of the peace had laid hands on the man who had so
bravely taken her part, and whose bright eyes had looked into her own
with such truth and devotion. He was to be dragged to prison; so he,
too, no doubt, was a criminal. At this thought she tried