of priests and rulers to delude and oppress the
ignorant; at last he even went so far as to mutter a, prayer, and when
his wife begged to be allowed to join a family of neighbors in
sacrificing a black lamb at daybreak, he recklessly gave her a handful of
money.

None of the party closed an eye that night. Dada could not bear to remain
in the house. Perhaps all these horrors existed only in Medius' fancy;
but if destruction were indeed impending, she would a thousand times
rattier perish with her own relations than with these people, in whom
there was something--she did not know what--for which she felt a deep
aversion. This she explained to her host early in the day and he was
ready to set out at once and restore her to the care of Karnis.

In fact, the purpose for which he had needed her must certainly come to
nothing. He himself was attached to the service of Posidonius, a great
magician and wizard, to whom half Alexandria flocked--Christians, Jews,
and heathens--in order to communicate with the dead, with gods and with
demons, to obtain spells and charms by which to attract lovers or injure
foes, to learn the art of becoming invisible, or to gain a glimpse into
the future. In the performance which was being planned Dada was to have
appeared to a bereaved mother as the glorified presence of her lost
daughter; but the disturbance in the city had driven the matron, who was
rich, to take refuge in the country the previous afternoon. Nor was it
likely that the sorcerer's other clients--even if all turned out better
than could be hoped--would venture into the streets by night. Rich people
were timid and suspicious; and as the Emperor had lately promulgated
fresh and more stringent edicts against the magic arts, Posidonius had
thought it prudent to postpone the meeting. Hence Medius had at present
no use for the girl; but he affected to agree so readily to her wishes
merely out of anxiety to relieve Isarnis as soon as possible of his
uneasiness as to her fate.

The morning was bright and hot, and the town was swarming with an excited
mob soon after sunrise. Terror, curiosity and defiance were painted on
every face; however, Medius and his young companion made their way
unhindered as far as the temple of Isis by the lake. The doors of the
sanctuary were closed, and guarded by soldiers; but the southern and
western walls were surrounded by thousands and thousands of heathen. Some
hundreds, indeed, had passed the night the