shining by thousands in the deep azure sky; the
constant chirrup of the shrill-voiced cicala, not mute as yet, although
his days of tuneful life were well nigh ended, rose cheerfully above the
rippling murmurs of the waters, and the mysterious rustling of the herbage
rejoicing to drink up the copious dew; and heard by fits and starts from
the thick clumps of arbutus on the hills, or the thorn bushes on the
water's brink, the liquid notes of the nightingale gushed out, charming
the ear of darkness.

For the first half mile of his walk, the young patrician met several
persons on the way--two or three pairs of lovers, as they seemed, of the
lower orders, strolling affectionately homeward; a party of rural slaves
returning from their labours on some suburban farm, to their master's
house; and more than one loaded chariot; but beyond this all was lonely
and silent, with the exception of the stream, the insects, and the vocal
night-bird.

There was no sound or sight that would seem to indicate the vicinity of
any human being, as Arvina, passing the mouth of a small gorge or hollow
scooped out of the bosom of a soft green hill, paused at the arch of a low
but richly ornamented grotto, hollowed out of the face of the rock, and
supported by a vault of reticulated brick-work, decorated elegantly with
reliefs of marble and rich stucco. The soft green mosses and dark tendrils
of the waving ivy, which drooped down from the rock and curtained well
nigh half the opening, rendered the grotto very dark within. And it was a
moment or two before Paullus discovered that he was alone in that secluded
place, or in the company only of the old marble god, who, reclining on a
couch of the same material at the farther end of the cave, poured forth
his bright waters from an inverted jar, into the clear cool basin which
filled the centre of the place.

He was surprised not a little at finding himself the first at the place of
meeting, for he was conscious that he was behind his time; and had,
indeed, come somewhat late on purpose, with a view of taking his stand as
if naturally during the interview, between the conspirator and the cave
mouth.

It was not, however, altogether a matter of regret to him, that he had
gained a little time, for the folds of his toga required some adjustment,
in order to enable him to get readily at the hilt of his sword, and the
mouth-piece of his hunting-horn, which he carried beneath his gown. And he
applied hims