ed cheeks. The lady uplifted her hands as
though calling on Heaven to avenge this outrageous crime; at the same
instant a loud howl of pain was heard from above, and a great confusion
of men's voices.

Euryale was beside herself with fear. If they had found Melissa in her
room her husband's fate was sealed, and she was guilty of his doom. But
they could scarcely yet have opened the chambers, and the girl was clever
and nimble, and might perhaps escape in time if she heard the men
approaching. She eagerly flew to the window. She could see below her the
stone which Melissa must move to get out; but between the wall and the
stadium the street was crowded, and at every door of the Serapeum lictors
were posted, even at that stone door known only to the initiated, with
the temple slaughterers and other servants who seemed all to be on guard.
If Melissa were to come out now she would be seized, and it must become
known who had shown her the way into the hiding-place that had sheltered
her.

At this moment Theokritus came leaping down the stairs, crying out to
her: "The lion--a physician--where shall I find a leech?"

The matron pointed to the old man, who was one of the medical students of
the sanctuary, and the favorite shouted out to him, "Come up!" and then
rushed on, paying no heed to Euryale's inquiry for Melissa; but the old
man laughed scornfully and shouted after him, "I am no beast-healer."

Then, turning to the lady, he added:

"I am sorry for the lion. You know me, lady. I could never till yesterday
bear to see a fly hurt. But this brute! It was as a son to that
bloodhound, and he shall feel for once something to grieve him. The lion
has had his portion. No physician in the world can bring him to life
again."

He bent his head and returned to his laboratory; but the matron
understood that this kind, peaceable man, in spite of his white hair, had
become a poisoner, and that the splendid, guiltless beast owed its death
to him. She shuddered. Wherever this unblest man went, good turned to
evil; terror, suffering, and death took the place of peace, happiness,
and life. He had forced her even into the sin of disobedience to her
husband and master. But now her secret hiding of Melissa against his will
would be avenged. He and she alike would probably pay for the deed with
their life; for the murder of his lion would inevitably rouse Caesar's
wildest passions.

Still, she knew that Caracalla respected her; for her