of a key,
I--could have released him? Would I let the memory of other days so
completely pass from my mind as to--'

How, at that instant, happened the door to close? Was it owing to the
wind, or to a skilful and concealed touch of Leta's hand, or to some
unconscious pressure of Sergius against it? The cause matters little. It
was enough that, of a sudden, the loosely hanging door swung round on
its creaking hinges into its place, fastening itself securely with a
spring bolt as its edge touched the lintel, and leaving AEnone shut out
alone in the dark street upon the other side.

Upon the instant, Sergius sprang forward to reopen the door. Convinced
of her perfidy, and madly lashing himself into yet further fury with the
consciousness of his wrongs, it was as yet not in his mind that even by
accident such a forced separation as this should befall her. His hand
was upon the bolt--in another second it would have been drawn back--when
his further action was arrested by a few lowly uttered words of Leta.

Not spoken to him, for, in his present state of mind, he was more than
ever morbidly jealous of any interference or attempted control, and
would most surely have disregarded them. But spoken as though to
herself, in a kind of whispered soliloquy, softly muttered, but yet with
utterance sufficiently distinct to reach his watchful ear.

'Ah, she will not regard that,' were the words, 'for of course she will
know where to rejoin him.'

Sergius started as the new idea impressed itself upon him. Could this be
true, indeed? Why not? Was it likely that the wife would have released
the slave whom she loved, and not have told him where they could meet
again? That, surely, would be too foolish an oversight, for it would be
throwing away all the benefits attending the escape. It were hardly
possible that any trust could have been reposed in the prospect of
future chance interviews, for that would be but a slender hope to lean
upon. In that boiling, seething world of Rome, now more than ever
disturbed by the inroads of strangers eagerly looking forward to the
excitements of the amphitheatre, it would be in vain to make even
deliberate and careful search for a lost slave, unless some clew should
be left behind. Yes, she must surely have that clew; and doubtless she
purposed to use it as soon as daylight came. Let her go now, therefore.
It were idle to call her back only for new flight in a few hours hence.

Still with his hand r