ighted to
effect his escape on terms so easy, and left the triclinium immediately in
quest of his mistress.

As he went out, Catiline burst into one of his sneering laughs, and
exclaimed, "He is in; by Pan, the hunter's God! he is in the death-toil
already! May I perish ill, if he escape it."

"Why, in the name of all the Gods, do you take so much pains with him,"
said Curius; "he is a stout fellow, and I dare say a brave one; and will
make a good legionary, or an officer perhaps; but he is raw, and a fool to
boot!"

"Raw, but no fool! I can assure you," answered Catiline; "no more a fool
than I am. And we must have him, he is necessary!"

"He will be necessary soon to that girl of yours; she has gone mad, I
think, for love of him. I never did believe in philtres; but this is well
nigh enough to make one do so."

"Pshaw!" answered Catiline; "it is thou that art raw now, and a fool,
Curius. She is no more in love with him than thou art; it was all
acting--right good acting: for it did once well nigh deceive me who devised
it; but still, only acting. I ordered her to win him at all hazards."

"At all hazards?"

"Aye! at _all_."

"I wish you would give her the like orders touching me, if she obey so
readily."

"I would, if it were necessary; which it is not. First, because I have you
as firmly mine, as need be; and secondly, because Fulvia would have her
heart's blood ere two days had gone, and that would ill suit me; for the
sly jade is useful."

"Take care she prove not too sly for you, Sergius. She may obey your
orders in this thing; but she does so right willingly. She loves the boy,
I tell you, as madly as Venus loved Adonis, or Phaedra Hyppolitus; she
would pursue him if he fled from her."

"She loves him no more than she loves the musty statue of my stout
grandsire, Sergius Silo."

"You will see one day. Meanwhile, look that she fool you not."

While they were speaking, Paullus had reached the entrance of the chamber
indicated; and, opening the door, had entered, expecting to find the three
women assembled at some feminine sport or occupation. But fortune again
favored him--opportune fortune!

For Lucia was alone, expecting him, prepared for his entrance at any
moment; yet, when he came, how unprepared, how shocked, how terrified!

For she had unclasped her stola upon both her shoulders, and suffered it
to fall down to her girdle which kept it in its place about her hips. But
above those she was