aimed the other;
"but come!--come, let us onward,--I trow we have been waited for--and as we
go, tell me, I do beseech thee, what was't that Cassius said, when the
slave lay beside ye?--"

"Nay, but I have forgotten--some trivial thing or other--oh! now I do
bethink me, he said it was a long walk to Marcus Laeca's."

"Fool! fool! Double and treble fool! and dost thou call this nothing?
Nothing to tell the loitering informer the very head and heart of our
design? By Erebus! but I am sick--sick of the fools, with whom I am thus
wretchedly assorted! Well! well! upon your own heads be it!" and instantly
recovering his temper he walked on with his two confederates, now in deep
silence, at a quick pace through the deserted streets towards their
perilous rendezvous.

Noiseless, with stealthy steps, they hurried onward, threading the narrow
pass between the dusky hills, until they reached a dark and filthy lane
which turning at right angles led to the broad thoroughfare of the more
showy, though by no means less ill-famed Suburra. Into this they struck
instantly, walking in single file, and keeping as nearly as possible in
the middle of the causeway. The lane, which was composed of dwellings of
the lowest order, tenanted by the most abject profligates, was dark as
midnight; for the tall dingy buildings absolutely intercepted every ray of
light that proceeded from the murky sky, and there was not a spark in any
of the sordid casements, nor any votive lamp in that foul alley. The only
glimpse of casual illumination, and that too barely serving to render the
darkness and the filth perceptible, was the faint streak of lustre where
the Suburra crossed the far extremity of the bye-path.

Scarce had they made three paces down the alley, ere the quick eye of
Cataline, for ever roving in search of aught suspicious, caught the dim
outline of a human figure, stealing across this pallid gleam.

"Hist! hist!" he whiskered in stern low tones, which though inaudible at
three yards' distance completely filled the ears of him to whom they were
addressed--"hist! hist! Cethegus; seest thou not--seest thou not there? If
it be he, he 'scapes us not again!--out with thy weapon, man, and strike at
once, if that thou have a chance; but if not, do thou go on with Cassius
to the appointed place. Leave him to me! and say, I follow ye! See! he
hath slunk into the darkness. Separate ye, and occupy the whole width of
the street, while I dislodge him!"