rst feared the narrower street for
its loneliness, yet now that she had so far glided through it in safety,
she had begun to feel somewhat reassured, and in turn dreaded the more
open channels, since they would naturally be more frequented. It was,
therefore, with new trepidation that, upon turning the corner, she saw,
in the broader street before her, signs of movement and life. The street
happened to be a favorite thoroughfare from the Triumphal Way, across
the Coelian Mount, and, in consequence, was never, perhaps, entirely
deserted. Now that the whole city was throbbing with anticipations of
the morrow's festivities, there were more persons wakeful and wandering
about with feverish expectation than usual. Moreover, it was a street
which abounded with drinking shops, and these were now all open, in
spite of the lateness of the hour, and appeared to be thronged with
customers. One of these shops stood upon the corner where AEnone had
halted. A faint light burned over the doorway to mark the locality; and
through the open passage she could see a crowd of ill-conditioned,
rough-looking men, appearing, in the dim light, more rough and uncouth
than they really were. Here were mingled together artisans of the lower
orders, slaves and professional gladiators, all drinking and singing
together in close fraternity. For a moment AEnone paused and hesitated,
not daring to pass on. If she could reach the farther side without
attracting observation, it would be but one step gained, for there were
many other drinking shops glimmering in the distance along the whole
street, and each one had its special crowd of noisy customers. To escape
one peril seemed only to run into another. Then, as she deliberated and
alternately put her foot forward and withdrew it again in a fruitless
attempt to muster courage to run the gauntlet, two men emerged from the
wine shop, and staggered toward her--a slave and a gladiator, linked arm
in arm, and singing a wild song in discordant keys. Both appeared to be
under the influence of wine, though in different degrees; for while the
former had set no bounds to his license, the latter had somewhat
restrained his propensities, in view of the demands upon his strength
which the morrow's work would surely make. Seeing these men reel toward
her, AEnone turned and fled, without knowing, or, for the moment, caring,
in which direction she went. The men had not at first seen her, but, as
they now caught sight of he