istius," interrupted Paullus boldly.
"Ye are talking about me, I fancy--is it not so?"

"Ay, it is," replied the other gravely. "You were disturbed not a little
at what stout Volero said."

"I was, I was," answered Arvina very quickly, "because I could not tell
him; and it is not pleasant to be suspected. The truth is that the dagger
is not mine at all, and that it _is_ blood that was on it; for last
night--but lo!" he added, interrupting himself, "I was about to speak out,
and tell you all; and yet my lips are sealed."

"I am sorry to hear it," said Aristius, "I do not like mysteries; and this
seems to me a dark one!"

"It is--as dark as Erebus," said Paullus eagerly, "and as guilty too; but
it is not my mystery, so help me the god of good faith and honour!"

"That is enough said; surely that is enough for you, Aristius," exclaimed
the warmer and more excitable Aurelius.

"For you it may be," replied the noble youth, with a melancholy smile.
"You are a boy in heart, my Aurelius, and overflow so much with generosity
and truth that you believe all others to be as frank and candid. I alas!
have grown old untimely, and, having seen what I have seen, hold men's
assertions little worth."

The hot blood mounted fiercely into the cheek of Paullus; and, striking
his horse's flank suddenly with his heel, he made him passage half across
the street, and would have seized Aristius by the throat, had not their
comrade interposed to hinder him.

"You are both mad, I believe; so mad that all the hellebore in both the
Anticyras could not cure you. Thou, Fuscus, for insulting him with
needless doubts. Thou, Paullus, for mentioning the thing, or shewing the
dagger at all, if you did not choose to explain."

"I do _choose_ to explain," replied Caecilius, "but I cannot; I have
explained it all to Marcus Tullius."

"To Cicero," exclaimed Aristius. "Why did you not say so before? I was
wrong, then, I confess my error; if Cicero be satisfied, it must needs be
all well."

"That name of Cicero is like the voice of an oracle to Fuscus ever!" said
Aurelius Victor, laughing. "I believe he thinks the new man from Arpinum a
very god, descended from Olympus!"

"No! not a God," replied Aristius Fuscus, "only the greatest work of God,
a wise and virtuous man, in an age which has few such to boast. But come,
let us ride on and conclude our race; and thou, Arvina, forget what I
said; I meant not to wrong thee."

"I have forgotten," answer