ed Arvina to give nearly the whole of his attention to
the guidance of the mules--he slackened the reins, and leaving the docile
and well-broken animals to choose their own way, giving only an occasional
glance to their movements, commenced the detail of his adventures at the
point, where he parted from them on the night before the last.

Many were the emotions of fear, and pity, and anxiety which that tale
called forth; and more than once the tears of Julia were evoked by
sympathy, first, with her lover's daring, then with the grief of Thrasea.
But not a shade of distrust came to cloud her pure spirit, for Paullus
mentioned nothing of his interview with Catiline on the Caelian, or in the
Campus; much less of his dining with him, or detecting in him the murderer
of the hapless Volero.

Still he did not attempt to conceal, that both Cicero and himself had
suspicions of the identity of the double murderer, or that he was about to
go forth that very evening, for the purpose of attempting--as he
represented it--to ascertain, beyond doubt, the truth of his suspicions.

And here it was singular, that Julia evinced not so much alarm or
perturbation as her mother; whether it was that she underrated the danger
he was like to run, or overrated the prowess and valor of her lover. But
so it was, for though she listened eagerly while he was speaking, and
gazed at him wistfully after he had become silent, she said nothing. Her
beautiful eyes, it is true, swam with big tear-drops for a moment, and her
nether lip quivered painfully; but she mastered her feelings, and after a
short space began to talk joyously about such subjects as were suggested
by the pleasant scenery, through which their road lay, or the various
groups of people whom they met on the way.

Ere long the shrill blast of a cavalry trumpet was heard from the
direction of the bridge, and a cloud of dust surging up in the distance
announced the approach of the train.

There was a small green space by the wayside, covered with short mossy
turf, and overshadowed by the spreading branches of a single chesnut,
beneath which Paullus drew up the mules of Hortensia's carriage, directing
the old charioteer, who seemed hard set to manage his high-bred and fiery
steeds, to wheel completely off the road, and hold them well in hand on
the green behind him.

By this time the procession had drawn nigh, and two mounted troopers,
glittering in casques of highly polished bronze, with