sadly, "to see you so determined. If I saw
the slightest sign of wavering in you I would hope that time might
change or modify your feelings. But you seem to me to be fixed
unalterably in your new course."

"God grant that I may remain steadfast unto the end!" said Marcellus
fervently. "But it is not of my feelings that I came to speak. I come,
Lucullus, to ask your assistance, to claim your sympathy and help. You
promised me once to show me your friendship if I needed it. I come now
to claim it."

"All that is in my power is yours already, Marcellus. Tell what you want."

"You have a prisoner."

"Yes, many."

"This is a boy."

"I believe my men captured a boy a short time since."

"This boy is too insignificant to merit capture. He is beneath the wrath
of the emperor. He is yet in your power. I come, Lucullus, to implore
his delivery."

"Alas, Marcellus, what is it that you ask? Have you forgotten the
discipline of the Roman army, or the military oath? Do you not know that
if I did this I would violate that oath and make myself a traitor? If
you asked me to fall upon my sword I would do it more readily than this."

"I have not forgotten the military oath or the discipline of the camp,
Lucullus. I thought that this lad, being scarcely more than a child,
might not be considered a prisoner. Do the commands of the emperor
extend to children?"

"He makes no distinction of age. Have you not seen children as young as
this lad suffer death in the Coliseum?"

"Alas I have," said Marcellus, as his thoughts reverted to those young
girls whose death-song once struck so painfully and so sweetly upon his
heart. "This young boy, then, must also suffer?"

"Yes," said Lucullus, "unless he abjures Christianity."

"And that he will never do."

"Then he will rush upon his fate. The law does this, not I, Marcellus. I
am but the instrument. Do not blame me."

"I do not blame you. I know well how strongly you are bound to
obedience. If you hold your office you must perform its duties. Yet let
me make another proposal. Surrender of prisoners is not allowed, but an
exchange is lawful."

"Yes."

"If I could tell you of a prisoner far more important than this boy, you
would exchange, would you not?"

"But you have taken none of us prisoners?"

"No, but we have power over our own people. And there are some among us
on whose heads the emperor has placed a large reward. For the capture of
these a hundred lads like this bo