came in hoarse murmurs from the bundle of rags
under his foot.

"Pity? Of that have I in plenty," he replied gruffly. "But methinks
'twas not pity ye sought by trying to strangle me."

"Pity, my lord, my children are starving...."

"Pity, my lord, I have not tasted food to-day----"

"Pity, my lord!" retorted the praefect with a grim laugh, and mimicking
the wretched man's words, "I would have murdered you had I had the
power."

Then he relaxed his grip, and with his foot pushed the bundle of dirt
further away from him. He groped in his wallet and drew out some silver
coins. These he threw, one by one, into the midst of the shapeless rags,
and he stooped forward, striving in the darkness to see something of the
faces that were wilfully hidden from him, something of the mouths that
had uttered the pitiable groans.

Vaguely he discerned the outline of cadaverous cheeks, of sunken
temples, of furtive eyes veiled by thin lids; he saw the glances half of
fear, wholly of doubt, that were thrown on the silver coins, heard the
muttered oaths, the incipient quarrel over the distribution of the
unexpected hoard.

Then did the strange perplexities which had assailed him throughout this
night find expression in bitter words. He threw down a few more coins
and said slowly:

"These are for pity's sake, and in the name of One Whom mayhap ye will
know one day. He died that ye should live! Bear that in mind and ponder
on it. Mayhap ye will find the solution to that riddle. That such as you
should live in eternity, therefore did He die.... When ye have
understood this and can explain the value of your lives as compared with
His, come and tell it to the praefect of Rome and he will shower on you
wealth beyond your dreams."

Then, without waiting to hear protestations, or heeding the ironical
laughter that came from the bewildered night-prowlers, he turned on his
heels and resumed his interrupted walk along the slope of the hill.

The footpath--scarce more than a beaten track--soon disappeared
altogether. Presently Taurus Antinor paused and called to Folces to come
up to him.

"Methinks we must be near the house," he said.

"Aye, gracious lord," replied the man, "just on thy right, some two
hundred steps from here. The way is very dark, wilt permit me to walk by
thy side?"

"Walk by my side an thou wilt. Thou canst direct me more easily; but as
to the darkness I can see through it well."

"But my gracious lord did not