’Ay！soyouwouldhavepreciseanswerstothosequestions？——therearevariouswaysofsatisfyingyou。ThereistheLithomanteia，orSpeaking—stone，whichanswersyourprayerwithaninfant’svoice；but，then，wehavenotthatpreciousstonewithus——costlyisitandrare。ThenthereistheGastromanteia，wherebythedemoncastspaleanddeadlyimagesuponthewater，propheticofthefuture。Butthisartrequiresalsoglassesofapeculiarfashion，tocontaintheconsecratedliquid，whichwehavenot。I
　　think，therefore，thatthesimplestmethodofsatisfyingyourdesirewouldbebytheMagicofAir。’
　　’Itrust，’saidSosia，tremulously，’thatthereisnothingveryfrightfulintheoperation？Ihavenoloveforapparitions。’
　　’Fearnot；thouwiltseenothing；thouwiltonlyhearbythebubblingofwaterwhetherornotthysuitprospers。First，then，besure，fromtherisingoftheeveningstar，thatthouleavestthegarden—gatesomewhatopen，sothatthedemonmayfeelhimselfinvitedtoentertherein；andplacefruitsandwaternearthegateasasignofhospitality；then，threehoursaftertwilight，comeherewithabowlofthecoldestandpurestwater，andthoushaltlearnall，accordingtotheThessalianloremymothertaughtme。
　　Butforgetnotthegarden—gate——allrestsuponthat：itmustbeopenwhenyoucome，andforthreehourspreviously。’
　　’Trustme，’repliedtheunsuspectingSosia；’Iknowwhatagentleman’sfeelingsarewhenadoorisshutinhisface，asthecookshop’shathbeeninminemanyaday；andIknow，also，thatapersonofrespectability，asademonofcourseis，cannotbutbepleased，ontheotherhand，withanylittlemarkofcourteoushospitality。Meanwhile，prettyone，hereisthymorning’smeal。’
　　’Butwhatofthetrial？’
　　’Oh，thelawyersarestillatit——talk，talk——itwilllastoverallto—morrow。’
　　’To—morrow？Youaresureofthat？’
　　’SoIhear。’
　　’AndIone？’
　　’ByBacchus！shemustbetolerablywell，forshewasstrongenoughtomakemymasterstampandbitehislipthismorning。Isawhimquitherapartmentwithabrowlikeathunderstorm。’
　　’Lodgesshenearthis？’
　　’No——intheupperapartments。ButImustnotstaypratingherelonger。
　　Vale！’
　　ChapterXII
　　AWASPVENTURESINTOTHESPIDER’SWEB。
　　THEsecondnightofthetrialhadsetin；anditwasnearlythetimeinwhichSosiawastobravethedreadUnknown，whenthereentered，atthatverygarden—gatewhichtheslavehadleftajar——not，indeed，oneofthemysteriousspiritsofearthorair，buttheheavyandmosthumanformofCalenus，thepriestofIsis。Hescarcelynotedthehumbleofferingsofindifferentfruit，andstillmoreindifferentwine，whichthepiousSosiahaddeemedgoodenoughfortheinvisiblestrangertheywereintendedtoallure。’Sometribute，’thoughthe，’tothegardengod。Bymyfather’shead！ifhisdeityshipwereneverbetterserved，hewoulddowelltogiveupthegodlyprofession。Ah！wereitnotforuspriests，thegodswouldhaveasadtimeofit。AndnowforArbaces——Iamtreadingaquicksand，butitoughttocoveramine。IhavetheEgyptian’slifeinmypower——whatwillhevalueitat？’
　　Ashethussoliloquised，hecrossedthroughtheopencourtintotheperistyle，whereafewlampshereandtherebrokeupontheempireofthestarlitnight；andissuingfromoneofthechambersthatborderedthecolonnade，suddenlyencounteredArbaces。
　　’Ho！Calenus——seekestthoume？’saidtheEgyptian；andtherewasalittleembarrassmentinhisvoice。
　　’Yes，wiseArbaces——Itrustmyvisitisnotunseasonable？’
　　’Nay——itwasbutthisinstantthatmyfreedmanCalliassneezedthriceatmyrighthand；Iknew，therefore，somegoodfortunewasinstoreforme——and，lo！thegodshavesentmeCalenus。’
　　’Shallwewithintoyourchamber，Arbaces？’
　　’Asyouwill；butthenightisclearandbalmy——Ihavesomeremainsoflanguoryetlingeringonmefrommyrecentillness——theairrefreshesme——letuswalkinthegarden——weareequallyalonethere。’
　　’Withallmyheart，’answeredthepriest；andthetwofriendspassedslowlytooneofthemanyterraceswhich，borderedbymarblevasesandsleepingflowers，intersectedthegarden。
　　’Itisalovelynight，’saidArbaces——’blueandbeautifulasthatonwhich，twentyyearsago，theshoresofItalyfirstbrokeuponmyview。MyCalenus，agecreepsuponus——letus，atleast，feelthatwehavelived。’
　　’Thou，atleast，maystarrogatethatboast，’saidCalenus，beatingabout，asitwere，foranopportunitytocommunicatethesecretwhichweigheduponhim，andfeelinghisusualaweofArbacesstillmoreimpressivelythatnight，fromthequietandfriendlytoneofdignifiedcondescensionwhichtheEgyptianassumed——’Thou，atleast，maystarrogatethatboast。Thouhasthadcountlesswealth——aframeonwhoseclose—wovenfibresdiseasecanfindnospacetoenter——prosperouslove——inexhaustiblepleasure——and，evenatthishour，triumphantrevenge。’
　　’ThoualludesttotheAthenian。Ay，to—morrow’ssunthefiatofhisdeathwillgoforth。Thesenatedoesnotrelent。Butthoumistakest：hisdeathgivesmenoothergratificationthanthatitreleasesmefromarivalintheaffectionsofIone。Ientertainnoothersentimentofanimosityagainstthatunfortunatehomicide。’
　　’Homicide！’repeatedCalenus，slowlyandmeaningly；and，haltingashespoke，hefixedhiseyesuponArbaces。Thestarsshonepaleandsteadilyontheproudfaceoftheirprophet，buttheybetrayedtherenochange：theeyesofCalenusfelldisappointedandabashed。Hecontinuedrapidly——’Homicide！
　　itiswelltochargehimwiththatcrime；butthou，ofallmen，knowestthatheisinnocent。’
　　’Explainthyself，’saidArbaces，coldly；forhehadpreparedhimselfforthehinthissecretfearshadforetold。
　　’Arbaces，’answeredCalenus，sinkinghisvoiceintoawhisper，’Iwasinthesacredgrove，shelteredbythechapelandthesurroundingfoliage。I
　　overheard——Imarkedthewhole。IsawthyweaponpiercetheheartofApaecides。Iblamenotthedeed——itdestroyedafoeandanapostate。’
　　’Thousawestthewhole！’saidArbaces，dryly；’soIimagined——thouwertalone’Alone！’returnedCalenus，surprisedattheEgyptian’scalmness。
　　’Andwhereforewertthouhidbehindthechapelatthathour？’
　　’BecauseIhadlearnedtheconversionofApaecidestotheChristianfaith——becauseIknewthatonthatspothewastomeetthefierceOlinthus——becausetheyweretomeettheretodiscussplansforunveilingthesacredmysteriesofourgoddesstothepeople——andIwastheretodetect，inordertodefeatthem。’
　　’Hastthoutoldlivingearwhatthoudidstwitness？’
　　’No，mymaster：thesecretislockedinthyservant’sbreast。’
　　’What！eventhykinsmanBurboguessesitnot！Come，thetruth！’
　　’Bythegods……’
　　’Hush！weknoweachother——whatarethegodstous？’
　　’Bythefearofthyvengeance，then——no！’
　　’Andwhyhastthouhithertoconcealedfrommethissecret？WhyhastthouwaitedtilltheeveoftheAthenian’scondemnationbeforethouhastventuredtotellmethatArbacesisamurderer？Andhavingtarriedsolong，whyrevealestthounowthatknowledge？’
　　’Because——because……’stammeredCalenus，coloringandinconfusion。
　　’Because，’interruptedArbaces，withagentlesmile，andtappingthepriestontheshoulderwithakindlyandfamiliargesture——’because，myCalenus（seenow，Iwillreadthyheart，andexplainitsmotives）——becausethoudidstwishthoroughlytocommitandentanglemeinthetrial，sothatI
　　mighthavenoloopholeofescape；thatImightstandfirmlypledgedtoperjuryandtomalice，aswellastohomicide；thathavingmyselfwhettedtheappetiteofthepopulacetoblood，nowealth，nopower，couldpreventmybecomingtheirvictim：andthoutellestmethysecretnow，erethetrialbeoverandtheinnocentcondemned，toshowwhatadesperatewebofvillainythywordto—morrowcoulddestroy；toenhanceinthis，theninthhour，thepriceofthyforbearance；toshowthatmyownarts，inarousingthepopularwrath，would，atthywitness，recoiluponmyself；andthatifnotforGlaucus，formewouldgapethejawsofthelion！Isitnotso？’
　　’Arbaces，repliedCalenus，losingallthevulgaraudacityofhisnaturalcharacter，’verilythouartaMagician；thoureadesttheheartasitwereascroll。’
　　’Itismyvocation，’answeredtheEgyptian，laughinggently。’Well，then，forbear；andwhenallisover，Iwillmaketheerich。’
　　’Pardonme，’saidthepriest，asthequicksuggestionofthatavarice，whichwashismaster—passion，badehimtrustnofuturechanceofgenerosity；
　　’pardonme；thousaidstright——weknoweachother。Ifthouwouldsthavemesilent，thoumustpaysomethinginadvance，asanoffertoHarpocrates。’Iftherose，sweetemblemofdiscretion，istotakerootfirmly，waterherthisnightwithastreamofgold。’
　　’Wittyandpoetical！’answeredArbaces，stillinthatblandvoicewhichlulledandencouraged，whenitoughttohavealarmedandchecked，hisgripingcomrade。’Wiltthounotwaitthemorrow？’
　　’Whythisdelay？Perhaps，whenIcannolongergivemytestimonywithoutshamefornothavinggiveniteretheinnocentmansuffered，thouwiltforgetmyclaim；and，indeed，thypresenthesitationisabadomenofthyfuturegratitude。’
　　’Well，then，Calenus，whatwouldstthouhavemepaythee？’
　　’Thylifeis，veryprecious，andthywealthisverygreat，’returnedthepriest，grinning。
　　’Wittierandmorewitty。Butspeakout——whatshallbethesum？’
　　’Arbaces，Ihaveheardthatinthysecrettreasurybelow，beneaththoserudeOscanarcheswhichpropthystatelyhalls，thouhastpilesofgold，ofvases，andofjewels，whichmightrivalthereceptaclesofthewealthofthedeifiedNero。ThoumaysteasilyspareoutofthosepilesenoughtomakeCalenusamongtherichestpriestsofPompeii，andyetnotmisstheloss。’
　　’Come，Calenus，’saidArbaces，winningly，andwithafrankandgenerousair，’thouartanoldfriend，andhastbeenafaithfulservant。Thoucansthavenowishtotakeawaymylife，norIadesiretostintthyreward：thoushaltdescendwithmetothattreasurythoureferrestto，thoushaltfeastthineeyeswiththeblazeofuncountedgoldandthesparkleofpricelessgems；andthoushaltforthyownreward，bearawaywiththeethisnightasmuchasthoucanstconcealbeneaththyrobes。Nay，whenthouhastonceseenwhatthyfriendpossesses，thouwiltlearnhowfoolishitwouldbetoinjureonewhohassomuchtobestow。WhenGlaucusisnomore，thoushaltpaythetreasuryanothervisit。SpeakIfranklyandasafriend？’
　　’Oh，greatest，bestofmen！’criedCalenus，almostweepingwithjoy，’canstthouthusforgivemyinjuriousdoubtsofthyjustice，thygenerosity？’
　　’Hush！oneotherturnandwewilldescendtotheOscanarches。’
　　ChapterXIII
　　THESLAVECONSULTSTHEORACLE。THEYWHOBLINDTHEMSELVESTHEBLINDMAY
　　FOOL。TWONEWPRISONERSMADEINONENIGHT。
　　IMPATIENTLYNydiaawaitedthearrivalofthenolessanxiousSosia。
　　Fortifyinghiscouragebyplentifulpotationsofabetterliquorthanthatprovidedforthedemon，thecredulousministrantstoleintotheblindgirl’schamber。
　　’Well，Sosia，andartthouprepared？Hastthouthebowlofpurewater？’
　　’Verily，yes：butItremblealittle。YouaresureIshallnotseethedemon？Ihaveheardthatthosegentlemenarebynomeansofahandsomepersonoracivildemeanor。’
　　’Beassured！Andhastthouleftthegarden—gategentlyopen？’
　　’Yes；andplacedsomebeautifulnutsandapplesonalittletablecloseby？’
　　’That’swell。Andthegateisopennow，sothatthedemonmaypassthroughit？’
　　’Surelyitis。’
　　’Well，then，openthisdoor；there——leaveitjustajar。Andnow，Sosia，givemethelamp。’
　　’What，youwillnotextinguishit？’
　　’No；butImustbreathemyspelloveritsray。Thereisaspiritinfire。
　　Seatthyself。’
　　Theslaveobeyed；andNydia，afterbendingforsomemomentssilentlyoverthelamp，rose，andinalowvoicechantedthefollowingrude：
　　INVOCATIONTOTHESPECTREOFTHEAIR
　　LovedalikebyAirandWaterAyemustbeThessalia’sdaughter；
　　Tous，Olympianhearts，aregivenSpellsthatdrawthemoonfromheaven。
　　AllthatEgypt’slearningwrought——
　　AllthatPersia’sMagiantaught——
　　Wonfromsong，orwrungfromflowers，Orwhisper’dlowbyfiend——areours。
　　Spectreoftheviewlessair！
　　HeartheblindThessalian’sprayer！
　　ByErictho’sart，thatshedDewsoflifewhenlifewasfled——
　　ByloneIthaca’swiseking，WhocouldwakethecrystalspringTothevoiceofprophecy？
　　BythelostEurydice，Summon’dfromtheshadowythrong，Asthemuse—son’smagicsong——
　　BytheColchian’sawfulcharms，Whenfair—hairedJasonleftherarms—
　　Spectreoftheairyhalls，Onewhoownstheedulycalls！
　　Breathealongthebrimmingbowl，AndinstructthefearfulsoulIntheshadowythingsthatlieDarkindimfuturity。
　　Come，wilddemonoftheair，Answertothyvotary’sprayer！
　　Come！oh，come！
　　Andnogodonheavenorearth——
　　NotthePaphianQueenofMirth，NotthevividLordofLight，NorthetripleMaidofNight，NortheThunderer’sselfshallbeBlestandhonour’dmorethanthee！
　　Come！oh，come！
　　’Thespectreiscertainlycoming，’saidSosia。’Ifeelhimrunningalongmyhair！’
　　’Placethybowlofwaterontheground。Now，then，givemethynapkin，andletmefoldupthyfaceandeyes。’
　　’Ay！that’salwaysthecustomwiththesecharms。Notsotight，though：
　　gently——gently！’
　　’There——thoucanstnotsee？’
　　’See，byJupiter！No！nothingbutdarkness。’
　　’Address，then，tothespectrewhateverquestionthouwouldstaskhim，inalow—whisperedvoice，threetimes。Ifthyquestionisansweredintheaffirmative，thouwilthearthewaterfermentandbubblebeforethedemonbreathesuponit；ifinthenegative，thewaterwillbequitesilent。’
　　’Butyouwillnotplayanytrickwiththewater，eh？’
　　’Letmeplacethebowlunderthyfeet——so。NowthouwiltperceivethatI
　　cannottouchitwithoutthyknowledge。’
　　’Veryfair。Now，then，OBacchus！befriendme。ThouknowestthatIhavealwayslovedtheebetterthanalltheothergods，andIwilldedicatetotheethatsilvercupIstolelastyearfromtheburlycarptor（butler），ifthouwiltbutbefriendmewiththiswater—lovingdemon。Andthou，OSpirit！
　　listenandhearme。ShallIbeenabledtopurchasemyfreedomnextyear？
　　Thouknowest；for，asthoulivestintheair，thebirdshavedoubtlessacquaintedtheewitheverysecretofthishouse，——thouknowestthatIhavefilchedandpilferedallthatIhonestly——thatis，safely——couldlayfingeruponforthelastthreeyears，andIyetwanttwothousandsestercesofthefullsum。ShallIbeable，OgoodSpirit！tomakeupthedeficiencyinthecourseofthisyear？Speak——Ha！doesthewaterbubble？No；allisasstillasatomb。——Well，then，ifnotthisyear，intwoyears？——Ah！Ihearsomething；thedemonisscratchingatthedoor；he’llbeherepresently。——Intwoyears，mygoodfellow：comenow，two；that’saveryreasonabletime。
　　What！dumbstill！Twoyearsandahalf——three——four？illfortunetoyou，frienddemon！Youarenotalady，that’sclear，oryouwouldnotkeepsilencesolong。Five——six——sixtyyears？andmayPlutoseizeyou！I’llasknomore。’AndSosia，inarage，kickeddownthewateroverhislegs。Hethen，aftermuchfumblingandmorecursing，managedtoextricatehisheadfromthenapkininwhichitwascompletelyfolded——staredround——anddiscoveredthathewasinthedark。
　　’What，ho！Nydia；thelampisgone。Ah，traitress；andthouartgonetoo；
　　butI’llcatchthee——thoushaltsmartforthis！’Theslavegropedhiswaytothedoor；itwasboltedfromwithout：hewasaprisonerinsteadofNydia。
　　Whatcouldhedo？Hedidnotdaretoknockloud——tocallout——lestArbacesshouldoverhearhim，anddiscoverhowhehadbeenduped；andNydia，meanwhile，hadprobablyalreadygainedthegarden—gate，andwasfastonherescape。
　　’But，’thoughthe，’shewillgohome，or，atleast，besomewhereinthecity。To—morrow，atdawn，whentheslavesareatworkintheperistyle，I
　　canmakemyselfheard；thenIcangoforthandseekher。Ishallbesuretofindandbringherback，beforeArbacesknowsawordofthematter。Ah！
　　that’sthebestplan。Littletraitress，myfingersitchatthee：andtoleaveonlyabowlofwater，too！Haditbeenwine，itwouldhavebeensomecomfort。’
　　WhileSosia，thusentrapped，waslamentinghisfate，andrevolvinghisschemestorepossesshimselfofNydia，theblindgirl，withthatsingularprecisionanddexterousrapidityofmotion，which，wehavebeforeobserved，waspeculiartoher，hadpassedlightlyalongtheperistyle，threadedtheoppositepassagethatledintothegarden，and，withabeatingheart，wasabouttoproceedtowardsthegate，whenshesuddenlyheardthesoundofapproachingsteps，anddistinguishedthedreadedvoiceofArbaceshimself。
　　Shepausedforamomentindoubtandterror；thensuddenlyitflashedacrossherrecollectionthattherewasanotherpassagewhichwaslittleusedexceptfortheadmissionofthefairpartakersoftheEgyptian’ssecretrevels，andwhichwoundalongthebasementofthatmassivefabrictowardsadoorwhichalsocommunicatedwiththegarden。Bygoodfortuneitmightbeopen。Atthatthought，shehastilyretracedhersteps，descendedthenarrowstairsattheright，andwassoonattheentranceofthepassage。Alas！thedoorattheentrancewasclosedandsecured。Whileshewasyetassuringherselfthatitwasindeedlocked，sheheardbehindherthevoiceofCalenus，and，amomentafter，thatofArbacesinlowreply。Shecouldnotstaythere；theywereprobablypassingtothatverydoor。Shesprangonward，andfeltherselfinunknownground。Theairgrewdampandchill；thisreassuredher。
　　Shethoughtshemightbeamongthecellarsoftheluxuriousmansion，or，atleast，insomerudespotnotlikelytobevisitedbyitshaughtylord，whenagainherquickearcaughtstepsandthesoundofvoices。On，on，shehurried，extendingherarms，whichnowfrequentlyencounteredpillarsofthickandmassiveform。Withatact，doubledinacutenessbyherfear，sheescapedtheseperils，andcontinuedherway，theairgrowingmoreandmoredampassheproceeded；yet，still，assheeverandanonpausedforbreath，sheheardtheadvancingstepsandtheindistinctmurmurofvoices。Atlengthshewasabruptlystoppedbyawallthatseemedthelimitofherpath。
　　Wastherenospotinwhichshecouldhide？Noaperture？nocavity？Therewasnone！Shestopped，andwrungherhandsindespair；thenagain，nervedasthevoicesneareduponher，shehurriedonbythesideofthewall；andcomingsuddenlyagainstoneofthesharpbuttressesthathereandtherejuttedboldlyforth，shefelltotheground。Thoughmuchbruised，hersensesdidnotleaveher；sheutterednocry；nay，shehailedtheaccidentthathadledhertosomethinglikeascreen；andcreepingcloseuptotheangleformedbythebuttress，sothatononesideatleastshewasshelteredfromview，shegatheredherslightandsmallformintoitssmallestcompass，andbreathlesslyawaitedherfate。
　　MeanwhileArbacesandthepriestweretakingtheirwaytothatsecretchamberwhosestoresweresovauntedbytheEgyptian。Theywereinavastsubterraneanatrium，orhall；thelowroofwassupportedbyshort，thickpillarsofanarchitecturefarremotefromtheGreciangracesofthatluxuriantperiod。Thesingleandpalelamp，whichArbacesbore，shedbutanimperfectrayoverthebareandruggedwalls，inwhichthehugestones，withoutcement，werefittedcuriouslyanduncouthlyintoeachother。Thedisturbedreptilesglareddullyontheintruders，andthencreptintotheshadowofthewalls。
　　Calenusshiveredashelookedaroundandbreathedthedamp，unwholesomeair。
　　’Yet，’saidArbaces，withasmile，perceivinghisshudder，’itistheserudeabodesthatfurnishtheluxuriesofthehallsabove。Theyarelikethelaborersoftheworld——wedespisetheirruggedness，yettheyfeedtheverypridethatdisdainsthem。’
　　’AndwhithergoesyondimgallerytotheleftaskedCalenus；’inthisdepthofgloomitseemswithoutlimit，asifwindingintoHades。’
　　’Onthecontrary，itdoesbutconducttotheupperrooms，’answeredArbaces，carelessly：’itistotherightthatwesteertoourbourn。’
　　Thehall，likemanyinthemorehabitableregionsofPompeii，branchedoffattheextremityintotwowingsorpassages；thelengthofwhich，notreallygreat，wastotheeyeconsiderablyexaggeratedbythesuddengloomagainstwhichthelampsofaintlystruggled。Totherightofthesealae，thetwocomradesnowdirectedtheirsteps。
　　’ThegayGlaucuswillbelodgedto—morrowinapartmentsnotmuchdrier，andfarlessspaciousthanthis，’saidCalenus，astheypassedbytheveryspotwhere，completelywrappedintheshadowofthebroad，projectingbuttress，coweredtheThessalian。
　　’Ay，butthenhewillhavedryroom，andampleenough，inthearenaonthefollowingday。Andtothink，’continuedArbaces，slowly，andverydeliberately——’tothinkthatawordofthinecouldsavehim，andconsignArbacestohisdoom！’
　　’Thatwordshallneverbespoken，’saidCalenus。
　　’Right，myCalenus！itnevershall，’returnedArbaces，familiarlyleaninghisarmonthepriest’sshoulder：’andnow，halt——weareatthedoor。’
　　Thelighttrembledagainstasmalldoordeepsetinthewall，andguardedstronglybymanyplatesandbindingsofiron，thatintersectedtheroughanddarkwood。FromhisgirdleArbacesnowdrewasmallring，holdingthreeorfourshortbutstrongkeys。Oh，howbeatthegripingheartofCalenus，asheheardtherustywardsgrowl，asifresentingtheadmissiontothetreasurestheyguarded！
　　’Enter，myfriend，’saidArbaces，’whileIholdthelamponhigh，thatthoumaystglutthineeyesontheyellowheaps。’
　　TheimpatientCalenusdidnotwaittobetwiceinvited；hehastenedtowardstheaperture。
　　Scarcehadhecrossedthethreshold，whenthestronghandofArbacesplungedhimforwards。
　　’Thewordshallneverbespoken！’saidtheEgyptian，withaloudexultantlaugh，andclosedthedooruponthepriest。
　　Calenushadbeenprecipitateddownseveralsteps，butnotfeelingatthemomentthepainofhisfall，hesprungupagaintothedoor，andbeatingatitfiercelywithhisclenchedfist，hecriedaloudinwhatseemedmoreabeast’showlthanahumanvoice，sokeenwashisagonyanddespair：’Oh，releaseme，releaseme，andIwillasknogold！’
　　Thewordsbutimperfectlypenetratedthemassivedoor，andArbacesagainlaughed。Then，stampinghisfootviolently，rejoined，perhapstogiveventtohislong—stifledpassions：
　　’AllthegoldofDalmatia，’criedhe，’willnotbuytheeacrustofbread。
　　Starve，wretch！thydyinggroanswillneverwakeeventheechoofthesevasthalls；norwilltheaireverreveal，asthougnawest，inthydesperatefamine，thyfleshfromthybones，thatsoperishesthemanwhothreatened，andcouldhaveundone，Arbaces！Farewell！’
　　’Oh，pity——mercy！Inhumanvillain；wasitforthis……’
　　TherestofthesentencewaslosttotheearofArbacesashepassedbackwardalongthedimhall。Atoad，plumpandbloated，layunmovingbeforehispath；theraysofthelampfelluponitsunshapedhideousnessandredupwardeye。Arbacesturnedasidethathemightnotharmit。
　　’Thouartloathsomeandobscene，’hemuttered，’butthoucanstnotinjureme；thereforethouartsafeinmypath。’
　　ThecriesofCalenus，dulledandchokedbythebarrierthatconfinedhim，yetfaintlyreachedtheearoftheEgyptian。Hepausedandlistenedintently。
　　’Thisisunfortunate，’thoughthe；’forIcannotsailtillthatvoiceisdumbforever。Mystoresandtreasureslie，notinyondungeonitistrue，butintheoppositewing。Myslaves，astheymovethem，mustnothearhisvoice。Butwhatfearofthat？Inthreedays，ifhestillsurvive，hisaccents，bymyfather’sbeard，mustbeweakenough，then！——no，theycouldnotpierceeventhroughhistomb。ByIsis，itiscold！——IlongforadeepdraughtofthespicedFalernian。’
　　WiththattheremorselessEgyptiandrewhisgowncloserroundhim，andresoughttheupperair。
　　ChapterXIV
　　NYDIAACCOSTSCALENUS。
　　WHATwordsofterror，yetofhope，hadNydiaoverheard！ThenextdayGlaucuswastobecondemned；yettherelivedonewhocouldsavehim，andadjudgeArbacestohisdoom，andthatonebreathedwithinafewstepsofherhiding—place！Shecaughthiscriesandshrieks——hisimprecations——hisprayers，thoughtheyfellchokedandmuffledonherear。Hewasimprisoned，butsheknewthesecretofhiscell：couldshebutescape——couldshebutseekthepraetorhemightyetintimebegiventolight，andpreservetheAthenian。Heremotionsalmoststifledher；herbrainreeled——shefelthersensegiveway——butbyaviolenteffortshemasteredherself，——and，afterlisteningintentlyforseveralminutes，tillshewasconvincedthatArbaceshadleftthespacetosolitudeandherself，shecreptonasherearguidedhertotheverydoorthathadcloseduponCalenus。Hereshemoredistinctlycaughthisaccentsofterroranddespair。Thricesheattemptedtospeak，andthricehervoicefailedtopenetratethefoldsoftheheavydoor。Atlengthfindingthelock，sheappliedherlipstoitssmallaperture，andtheprisonerdistinctlyheardasofttonebreathehisname。