e two men gazed at each other for a moment. The Roman spoke first:

'Chios, thou art mad! Why, this alone would damn thee tenfold! Thou art
lost! The die is cast, thy doom sealed. Unhappy friend, I pity thee,
pity thee from my very heart. Farewell! Farewell--for ever!'

And Chios was left to his fate.

* * * * *

The great day had come. Thousands were pouring into the city. It was the
day when the Ephesian theatre would be filled with spectators to witness
the slaughter of the condemned--slaves, felons, Christians, and
Chios--to make sport for the people.

The beasts had been kept without food the preceding day, and were
ravenous. The multitude had been gathering since sunrise, and already
the theatre was filled. Never in that generation had such a noble
citizen as Chios been offered to the lions; and many hard-hearted and
stoical ones said, 'He ought to die,' but when the testing time came,
many, many of the people would have saved him.

A rumour had floated, propagated by the witch Endora, that she had
watched Chios going towards the grove, followed him, and saw him meet a
Greek girl, a lady of Ephesus. Finding they were discovered, both hid
within. She saw the girl leave, but Chios remained.

The people, ready to believe almost anything for the sake of Chios,
accepted this trumped-up story, saying: 'After all, it was a love
affair, and Chios was not the man to reveal the lady's name.'

Thus the feeling grew, and if the populace by vote could have saved him,
they would have done so; but this was not possible.

So the time wore on, and the multitude became more excited. The hour
arrived. Soon the High Priest and Priestess would arrive and the
slaughter commence.

Chios was being brought forth to the arena just as the High Priestess
Saronia passed him. Her garments nearly brushed the doomed man, and
their eyes met. She halted and spoke to her escort, saying:

'Who is that man?'

They answered: 'Chios the Greek, the great Ionian artist.'

With an unbending look she beckoned him towards her. With voice clear as
a silver bell, she said:

'Of what art thou accused?'

'I am accused of being within the Sacred Grove of Hecate, and slaying
the hounds.'

'What brought thee there?'

'Madam, that is a part of my crime, that I answer not such questions.'

'Thou art a bold man, but courageous. Hear me, Chios the Greek! By
virtue of my office, High Priestess of the Lady Saviour, I