ken off every
ailment, and to be in the completest and most firm possession of all his
wonted energies. As he caught up Cethegus, he relaxed somewhat of his
speed, and ran on by his side for some few yards at a sort of springy
trot, speaking the while in a deep whisper,

"Hist!" he said, "hist!--I am more swift of foot than thou, and deeper
winded. Leave me to deal with this dog! Back thou, to him thou knowest of;
sore is he hurt, I warrant me. Comfort him as thou best mayest, and hurry
whither we were now going. 'Tis late even now--too late, I fear me much,
and doubtless we are waited for. I have the heels of this same
gallowsbird, that can I see already! Leave me to deal with him, and an he
tells tales on us, then call me liar!"

Already well nigh out of breath himself, while the endurance of the
fugitive seemed in nowise affected, and aware of the vast superiority of
his brother conspirator's powers to his own, Cethegus readily enough
yielded to his positive and reiterated orders, and turning hastily
backward, gathered up the bruised and groaning Cassius, and led him with
all speed toward the well-known rendezvous in the house of Laeca.

Meanwhile with desperate speed that headlong race continued; the gloomy
alley was passed through; the wider street into which it debouched,
vanished beneath their quick beating footsteps; the dark and shadowy arch,
wherein the chief conspirator had lurked, was threaded at full speed; and
still, although he toiled, till the sweat dripped from every pore like
gouts of summer rain, although he plied each limb, till every over-wrought
sinew seemed to crack, the hapless fugitive could gain no ground on his
inveterate pursuer; who, cool, collected and unwearied, without one drop
of perspiration on his dark sallow brow, without one panting sob in his
deep breath, followed on at an equable and steady pace, gaining not any
thing, nor seeming to desire to gain any thing, while yet within the
precincts of the populous and thickly-settled city.

But now they crossed the broad Virbian street. The slave, distinctly
visible for such, as he glanced by a brightly decorated shrine girt by so
many brilliant lamps as shewed its tenant idol to have no lack of
worshippers, darted up a small street leading directly towards the
Esquiline.

"Now! now!" lisped Cataline between his hard-set teeth, "now he is mine,
past rescue!"

Up the dark filthy avenue they sped, the fierce pursuer now gaining on the