,--must henceforth follow the young girl:
but unnoticed."

"I thank you, General. I'll make amends for my fault. She shall neither
escape nor come to any harm. And she shall not discover that she is
constantly watched and guarded."

Directly afterwards the tubas gave the signal through the streets of
the camp for a general inspection of the troops, in marching
equipments, with mantles. The foot-soldiers were to occupy the wide
space on both sides of the Praetorium in the Forum and the Quaestorium,
and the cross streets intersecting the camp from east to west, the Via
Principalis and the Via Quintana; but the horsemen were to remain
directly in front of their rows of tents, near the southern gate facing
the lake, the Porta Decumana.

The Tribune mounted his horse and rode along the front. When he had
inspected the Batavians, he ordered a body of them to follow him and
station themselves behind the mailed riders, at the same time making a
sign to Rignomer. The Tribune first rode at a walk down the lines of
the mailed cavalry, then he ordered them to wheel and pass before him.

"You look pale, O Herculanus!" he called to their commander. "Have you
been up all night? Did you sacrifice to Bacchus after the evening
banquet?"

"A little."

Saturninus now closed the inspection. Turning the corner of the Via
Media, which intersected the camp from north to south, he motioned to
Rignomer, dismounted, and gave him his horse.

"Who had a piece missing from his mantle?"

"No one. But one had a new piece of cloth sewed into the hem--the color
did not match, it had not yet been faded by the sun exactly the size of
that scrap."

"An officer?"

"Yes."

"It was he: it was Herculanus."

"But my lord, you saw the horsemen only from the front."

"Yet I know it. Be watchful. Guard the little one."

CHAPTER XXXI.

Adalo had retraced the road to the Holy Mountain with a heavy heart,
and with deep pain he made his report in the Duke's tent at daybreak.

"I have gained nothing," were his closing words, "seen nothing of the
camp, and not a sign of--of her. What is to be done?"

"Wait," replied the Duke, stroking his long beard and half closing his
eye.

"Wait! it is easy for you to say that."

"Harder than for you, who still have thrice as many years before you as
I."

"But Bissula! Surely I have told you that she does not belong to the
old man, her friend. When will you lead us to the a