f the upper classes are always tender-hearted; and
he would certainly get off tolerably well if he were left to us: for,
between ourselves, what is a paltry priest of Isis!--what Isis herself?
But the common people are superstitious; they clamor for the blood of
the sacrilegious one. It is dangerous not to give way to public
opinion.'

'And the blasphemer--the Christian, or Nazarene, or whatever else he be
called?'

'Oh, poor dog! if he will sacrifice to Cybele or Isis, he will be
pardoned--if not, the tiger has him. At least, so I suppose; but the
trial will decide. We talk while the urn's still empty. And the Greek
may yet escape the deadly Theta of his own alphabet. But enough of this
gloomy subject. How is the fair Julia?'

'Well, I fancy.'

'Commend me to her. But hark! the door yonder creaks on its hinges; it
is the house of the praetor. Who comes forth? By Pollux! it is the
Egyptian! What can he want with our official friend!'

'Some conference touching the murder, doubtless,' replied Diomed; 'but
what was supposed to be the inducement to the crime? Glaucus was to have
married the priest's sister.'

'Yes: some say Apaecides refused the alliance. It might have been a
sudden quarrel. Glaucus was evidently drunk--nay, so much so as to
have been quite insensible when taken up, and I hear is still
delirious--whether with wine, terror, remorse, the Furies, or the
Bacchanals, I cannot say.'

'Poor fellow!--he has good counsel?'

'The best--Caius Pollio, an eloquent fellow enough. Pollio has been
hiring all the poor gentlemen and well-born spendthrifts of Pompeii to
dress shabbily and sneak about, swearing their friendship to Glaucus
(who would not have spoken to them to be made emperor!--I will do him
justice, he was a gentleman in his choice of acquaintance), and trying
to melt the stony citizens into pity. But it will not do; Isis is
mightily popular just at this moment.'

'And, by-the-by, I have some merchandise at Alexandria. Yes, Isis ought
to be protected.'

'True; so farewell, old gentleman: we shall meet soon; if not, we must
have a friendly bet at the Amphitheatre. All my calculations are
confounded by this cursed misfortune of Glaucus! He had bet on Lydon
the gladiator; I must make up my tablets elsewhere. Vale!'

Leaving the less active Diomed to regain his villa, Clodius strode on,
humming a Greek air, and perfuming the night with the odorous that
steamed from his snowy garmen