dressed only in a tunic of that loose fabric, a sort
of silken gauze, which was called woven air, and was beginning to be worn
very much by women of licentious character; this dress--if that indeed
could be called a dress, which displayed all the outlines of the shape,
all the hues of the glowing skin every minute blue vein that meandered
over the lovely bosom--was wrought in alternate stripes of white and
silver; and nothing can be imagined more beautiful than the effect of its
semi-transparent veil concealing just enough to leave some scope for the
imagination, displaying more than enough for the most prodigal of beauty.

She was employed in dividing her long jet-black hair with a comb of
mother-of-pearl as he entered; but she dropped both the hair and comb, and
started to her feet with a simulated scream, covering her beautiful bust
with her two hands, as if she had been taken absolutely by surprise.

But Paullus had been drinking freely, and Paullus saw, moreover, that she
was not offended; and, if surprised, surprised not unpleasantly by his
coming.

He sprang forward, caught her in his arms, and clasping her to his bosom
almost smothered her with kisses. But shame on her, fast and furiously as
he kissed, she kissed as closely back.

"Lucia, sweet Lucia, do you then love me?"

"More than my life--more than my country--more than the Gods! my brave, my
noble Paullus."

"And will you then be mine--all mine, my Lucia?"

"Yours, Paul?" she faltered, panting as if with agitation upon his bosom;
"am I not yours already? but no, no, no!" she exclaimed, tearing herself
from his embrace. "No no! I had forgotten. My father! no; I cannot, my
father!"

"What mean you, Lucia? your father? What of your father?"

"You are his enemy. You have discovered, will betray him."

"No, by the great Gods! you are mad, Lucia. I have discovered nothing; nor
if I knew him to be the slayer of my father, would I betray him! never,
never!"

"Will you swear _that_?"

"Swear what?"

"Never, whatever you may learn, to betray him to any living man: never to
carry arms, or give evidence against him; but faithfully and stedfastly to
follow him through virtue and through vice, in life and unto death; to
live for him, and die with him, unless I release you of your oath and
restore you to freedom, which I will never do!"

"By all the powers of light and darkness! by Jupiter Omnipotent, and Pluto
the Avenger, I swear, Lucia! May I and all