Carry the dagger with thee; wear it as
ostentatiously as may be--perchance it shall turn out that some one may
claim or recognise it. Whatever happeneth, let me know privately. Thus far
hast thou done well, and very wisely: go on as thou hast commenced, and,
hap what hap, count Cicero thy friend. But above all, doubt not--I say,
doubt not one moment,--that as there is One eye that seeth all things in
all places, that slumbereth not by day nor sleepeth in the watches of
night, that never waxeth weak at any time or weary--as there is One hand
against which no panoply can arm the guilty, from which no distance can
protect, nor space of time secure him, so surely shall they perish
miserable who did this miserable murder, and their souls rue it
everlastingly beyond the portals of the grave, which are but the portals
of eternal life, and admit all men to wo or bliss, for ever and for ever!"

He spoke solemnly and sadly; and on his earnest face there was a deep and
almost awful expression, that held Arvina mute and abashed, he knew not
wherefore; and when the great man had ceased from speaking, he made a
silent gesture of salutation and withdrew, thus gravely warned, scarce
conscious if the statesman noted his departure; for he had fallen into a
deep reverie, and was perhaps musing on the mysteries yet unrevealed of
the immortal soul, so totally careless did he now appear of all sublunary
matters.

CHAPTER V.

THE CAMPUS.

Eques ipso melior Bellerophonte,
Neque pugno neque segni pede victus,
Simul unctos Tiberinis humeros lavit in undis.
HORACE. OD. III. 12.

"What ho! my noble Paullus," exclaimed a loud and cheerful voice, "whither
afoot so early, and with so grave a face?"

Arvina started; for so deep was the impression made on his mind by the
last words of Cicero, that he had passed out into the Sacred Way, and
walked some distance down it, toward the Forum, in deep meditation, from
which he was aroused by the clear accents of the merry speaker.

Looking up with a smile as he recognised the voice, he saw two young men
of senatorial rank--for both wore the crimson laticlave on the breast of
their tunics--on horseback, followed by several slaves on foot, who had
overtaken him unnoticed amid the din and bustle which had drowned the
clang of their horses' feet on the pavement.

"Nay, I scarce know, Aurelius!" replied the young man, laughing; "I
thought I was goin