The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

the new empire would require a religion , and he would leave that to be settled by the priests . He was on intimate terms with many of the leading Jews , through whose agency he invested his money to profit . The mark of the cross was the

first light thrown upon the chart of the catacombs , Cenna knew not that it was the badge of the Christian faith , but Balbus did , and he hugged himself as he saw from this discovery , the grandest results arising to himself .

A debauchee , a lawless tyrant in his way , an alien to every honourable feeling , Balbus was yet brave , not the courage of mere animal force , but that courage which springs from a reckless spirit , resolute in bearing down all obstacles , which come in its path . That very day , he verified the truth of

Cenna ' s sketch , and then set out to Cassius house , resolved to make the High Priest his friend . Cassius and Balbus had much in common , they were fond of power , wealth and pleasure , for despite his appearance of piety , the High Priest

was at heart a debauchee . His pleasures however were stolen ; to the people , he was austere and rigidly virtuous . Balbus had a suspicion of this , and he desired to link himself with Cassius , who , in the prosecution of his schemes , would prove

an invaluable tool . Money beyond his desires could be placed in the High Priest ' s hands , aud all that ambition could prompt would be his , if Balbus succeeded . Balbus only wanted the opportunity to make himself acquainted in an intimate degree with Cassius to twist him round his little finp-er .

Balbus made one mistake . He forgot that Cassius with all his failings was still a Roman , proud of his country , and hating aliens . The High Priest was surprised to have Balbus for a visitor , he knew him only by name and reputation , aud had not a very high opinion of him from the latter . However he received his visitor

blandly , politely passed the compliments of gentlemen , and pointing to a seat , asked his business . " You are anxious to discover something concerning the death of Cenna , the author , are you

not ?" " Certainly , can you throw any light upon that mystery ?" "Not much , except b y inference . Whom do you suspect of having an interest in the

unfortunates death ?" " That is a question which answered might put the suspected upon their guard . "

" What ! do you suspect me ? " No , no , you misunderstand me , but affairs of state had better always be confined to as few breasts as possible . " "True , but my suspicions he against the Christians . "

" The Christians , " cried Cassius , " it is the Bacchanals , " and then he stopped suddenly , but not before he had committed himself . Balbus smiled quietly to himself—the Hight Priest was--not equal to him in cunning .

" You supposed the Bacchanals had done it 2 I heard that too , that he had made some revelations regarding them . '''' "Who told yon that ? " asked the High Priest sharply .

" Faith , I forget , Lycns , Clodio , Sempronius ,, Caius Fabius , or some other court butterfly . Itwas gossip , but let it pass . I do not believe that such a society ever existed in Rome at the present day . Such a notion is absurd . "

" My impression too , " said the High Priest , "for we scoured the Suburra after his death but . could find no trace of them . "

"You must look to the Christians for his murderers . " " It is curious , but I do not agree with yon there . " " Yet , you say , you do not believe the

Bacchanals ever were in Rome as Cenna would have had you believe . " " Listen , Balbus . There was a council held by Trajan , to consider what was to be done with three different societies , each hostile to the state ,

the Stoics , the Bacchanals and the Christians . Cossus denounced the Stoics , Cenna the Bacchanals , the Emperor alone knows who denounced the Christians . What was the consequence . Cossua has disappeared , left no trace behind him , in all

probability he has been murdered . Cenna too has been found , drowned in the Tiber according to public opinion , poisoned according to mine . The only one of the three alive , so far as I know , for he may be dead too , is the secret denouncer of the Christians . The Stoics are not Bacchanals , neither are the Bacchanals Stoics .

" Your reasoning is correct so far , but yet I can prove in some manner that Cenna ' s death lies at the Christians' door . I have already told you that I do no believe in the existence of Bacchanals at all . " " You have said so , " answered Cassius looking