not Andivius Hedulio?"

"I am," I acknowledged.

He saluted me courteously and bade me a polite farewell, without any other
word.

Tanno and Galen made no comment, nor did Agathemer. They assisted me out
to Tanno's waiting litter. In it I was borne off to the lodgings which I
had occupied eight days before, between my two trials. There I found a
tempting meal ready for me and ate liberally. Then I was put to bed and at
once fell into the deep sleep of utter exhaustion and slept through till
long after daylight next day.

When I woke I found that Dromo himself was by my bedside, as well as
Agathemer. They tended me, washed me, plied me with wine and fed me with
dainties, asserting that Galen had given orders that I was on no account
to stir from my bed or sit up in it.

I slept again and, when I woke early in the afternoon, insisted on getting
up and being dressed. I was no sooner clad than there entered the
apartment a big, florid, youthful Pannonian sergeant and four legionaries.

I was yet again rearrested!

They led me away, forbidding Agathemer to exchange a word with me, or to
follow us. Through the brilliant July sunlight they led me, along its
northeast flank, up the Steps of Groaning, and to the Mamertine Prison!

There I was handed over to four of the assistants to the Public
Executioner. They stripped me of my outer garments, leaving me naked
except for my tunic. Then they haled me to the trap-door, lifted the trap,
passed ropes under my armpits and lowered me into the dreaded lower
dungeon, the horrible Tullianum!

CHAPTER XXXIX

THE TULLIANUM

Gloomy as is the upper cell of the Mamertine Prison there is light enough
there for my eyes to have been utterly blinded by it as I was lowered into
the black pit beneath. I saw nothing in the brief period while I was being
let down, while the ropes were being drawn up, while the trap-door was
shut down and fitted into place. Then I was in the pitchest darkness, into
which no ray, no glimmer of light could penetrate. I saw nothing whatever,
yet I seemed to feel a presence, seemed to hear a faint footfall, seemed
to be aware of another human being standing close to me. Then I heard a
deep, resonant, healthy, pleasant-sounding voice ask:

"Brother in misfortune, who are you?"

I was past any impulse towards dissimulation or any belief in its utility.

"I am Andivius Hedulio."

"You are?" the big, cheerful male voice exclaimed. "You really are? Y