moment Malchus
felt powerless, but before Sempronius could strike there was a deep
roar, a dark body sprang forward and hurled itself upon him, levelling
him to the ground with a crushing blow of its paw, and then seized him
by the shoulder and shook him violently. The slave who held Malchus
loosed his hold and fled with a cry of affright, the female slave
dropped the light and fled also. Clotilde had by this time gained her
feet.

"Quick, love!" Malchus said; "seize your disguise and join me at the
back gate. Sempronius is killed; I will join you as quickly as I can."

By this time the household was alarmed, the shout of Malchus and the
roar of the lion had aroused everyone, and the slaves soon came hurrying
with lights to the spot. Malchus checked them as they came running out.

"Fetch the net," he said. The net in question had been procured after
the lion had before made an attack upon the slave, but had not since
been required.

Malchus dared not approach the creature now, for though he was not
afraid for himself, it was now furious, and might, if disturbed, rush
among the others and do terrible destruction before it could be secured.
The net was quickly brought, and Malchus, with three of the most
resolute of the slaves, advanced and threw it over the lion, which was
lying upon the prostrate body of Sempronius. It sprang to its feet, but
the net was round it, and in its struggle to escape it fell on its side.
Another twist of the net and it was helplessly inclosed; the four
men lifted the ends and carried it away. Cutting a portion of the net
Malchus placed the massive iron collar attached to the chain round its
neck and then left it, saying to the others:

"We can cut the rest of the net off it afterwards."

He then hurried back to the scene of the struggle. Flavia was already
there.

"What is all this, Malchus," she asked. "Here I find Sempronius dead
and one of his slaves senseless beside him; they tell me when he first
arrived you were here."

"I know nothing of it, lady," Malchus replied, "save that the lion
aroused me by growling, and thinking that robbers might have entered the
house, I arose and searched it and came upon three men. One I levelled
to the ground with my staff; doubtless he is only stunned and will be
able to tell you more when he recovers. I grappled with another, and
while engaged in a struggle with him the third attacked me with a sword,
and would have slain me had not the lion sp