, she remarked that she should be mistaken for the young
wife of a shabby old husband, returning from market with a load of
provisions.

She was delighted to think of what Herse's face would be when, on her
return home, she should discover that the prisoner could make her escape
even without shoes.

"Let her have a good hunt for me!" she cried quite enchanted. "Why
should I always be supposed to be ready for folly and wickedness! But
one thing I warn you: If I am not comfortable and happy with you, and
if I do not like the parts you want me to fill, we part as quickly as
we have come together.--Why are you taking me through all these dirty
alleys? I want to ride through the main streets and see what is going
on." But Medius would not agree to this, for in the great arteries
of the town there were excitement and tumult, and they might think
themselves fortunate if they reached his house unmolested.

He lived in a little square, between the Greek quarter and Rhacotis
where the Egyptians lived, and his house, which was exactly opposite the
church of St. Marcus, accommodated Medius himself, his wife, his widowed
daughter and her five children, besides being crammed from top to bottom
with all sorts of strange properties, standing or hanging in every
available space. Dada's curiosity had no rest, and by the time she had
spent a few hours in the house her host's pretty little grandchildren
were clinging to her with devoted affection.

Agne had not been so fortunate as to find a refuge so easily. With no
escort, unveiled, and left entirely to her own guidance, leading the
little boy, she hurried forward, not knowing whither. All she thought
was to get away--far away from these men who were trying to imperil her
immortal soul.

She knew that Karnis had actually bought her, and that she was,
therefore, his property and chattel. Even Christian doctrine taught
her that the slave must obey his master; but she could not feel like a
slave, and if indeed she were one her owner might destroy and kill her
body, but not her soul. The law, however, was on the side of Karnis, and
it allowed him to pursue her and cast her into prison. This idea
haunted her, and for fear of being caught she avoided all the chief
thoroughfares and kept close to the houses as she stole through the side
streets and alleys. Once, in Antioch, she had seen a runaway slave, who,
having succeeded in reaching a statue of the Emperor and laying his hand
on it, w