not seen going thither, and you were best send them
out by different roads, so as to meet after nightfall. Hide yourselves
closely somewhere, not far from the cavern's mouth, whence you may see,
unseen yourselves, whatever passes. I will carry my light hunting horn;
and if you hear its blast rush down and surround the cave, but hurt no
man, nor strike a blow save in self-defence, until I bid you. Do you
comprehend me?"

"I comprehend, and will obey you to the letter, Paullus," answered the
grave freedman, "but will not you be armed?"

"I will, my Thrasea. Leave thou a leathern hunting helmet here on the
table, and light scaled cuirass, which I will do on under my toga. I shall
be there at the fourth hour precisely; but it were well that ye should be
on your posts by the second hour or soon after. For it may be, he too will
lay an ambuscade, and so all may be discovered."

"It shall be done, most noble master."

"And see that ye take none but trustworthy men, and that ye all are
silent--to would be ruin."

"As silent as the grave, my Paullus," answered the freedman.

"The car and horses are prepared, Paullus," exclaimed a slave, entering
hastily.

"Who goes with me to hold the reins?" asked his master.

"The boy Myron."

"It is well. Fetch me a petasus, and lay the toga in the chariot. I may
want it. Now, Thrasea, I rely on you! Remember--be prudent, sure, and
silent."

"Else may I perish ill," replied the faithful servitor, as his master,
throwing the broad brimmed hat carelessly on his curly locks, rushed out,
as if glad to seek relief from his own gloomy thoughts in the excitement
of rapid motion; and, scarcely pausing to observe the condition or
appearance of his beautiful black coursers, sprang into the low car of
bronze, shaped not much differently from an old fashioned arm chair with
its back to the horses; seized the reins, and drove rapidly away, standing
erect--for the car contained no seats--with the boy Myron clinging to the
rail behind him.

A few minutes brought him through the Cyprian lane and the Suburra to the
Virbian slope, by which he gained the Viminal hill, and the Hortensian
villa; at the door of which, in a handsome street leading through the
Quirinal gate to the Flaminian way, or great northern road of Italy, stood
the carpentum, drawn by a pair of noble mules, awaiting its fair freight.

This was a two-wheeled covered vehicle, set apart mostly for the use of
ladies; and, though wi