rew himself upon his knees and raised his voice in prayer. Two
faithful attendants remained with him. The soldiers rushed in, and even
while Chrysippus was upon his knees they dashed out his brains. He fell
dead at the first blow, and his two attendants were slain by his side."

"They have gone to join the noble army of martyrs. They have been
faithful unto death, and will receive the crown of life," said Marcellus.

But now they were interrupted by a tumult without. Instantly every one
started upright. "The soldiers!" exclaimed all.

But, no; it was not the soldiers. It was a Christian; a messenger from
the world above. Pale and trembling, he flung himself upon the floor,
and wringing his hands, cried out as he panted for breath,

"Alas! alas!"

Upon the lady Caecilia the sight of this man produced a terrible effect.
She staggered back against the wall trembling from head to foot, her
hands clenched each other, her eyes stared wildly, her lips moved as
though she wished to speak, but no sound escaped.

"Speak--speak! Tell us all," cried Honorius.

"Pollio!" gasped the messenger.

"What of him?" said Marcellus sternly.

"He is arrested--he is in prison!"

At that intelligence a shriek burst forth which sounded fearfully amid
the surrounding horrors. It came from the Lady Caecilia. The next moment
she fell heavily, to the floor.

The bystanders hurried to attend her. They carried her away to her own
quarters. There they applied the customary restoratives and she revived.
But the blow had struck heavily, and though sense and feeling returned,
yet she seemed like one in a dream.

Meanwhile the messenger had recovered strength and told all that he knew.

"Pollio was with you, was he?" asked Marcellus.

"No, he was alone."

"On what errand?"

"Finding out the news. I was on one side of the street a little behind.
He was coming home. We walked on until we came to a crowd of men. To my
surprise, Pollio was stopped and questioned. I did not hear what passed,
but I saw their threatening gestures, and at length saw them seize him.
I could do nothing. I kept at a safe distance and watched. In about half
an hour a troop of Pretorians came along. Pollio was handed over to
them, and they carried him away."

"Pretorians?" said Marcellus. "Do you know the captain?"

"Yes; it was Lucullus."

"It is well," said Marcellus, and he fell into a deep fit of musing.

CHAPTER XI.

THE OFFER.

"Greater love ha