The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

at him searchingly . "Let them pass . Now for the Christians . " " Shortly before Genua's death , I had employed liim to make certain examinations of the ancient buildings of Rome , and in accordance with his

his directions , he entered the catacombs . From his accounts I suspected that the Christians held . their meetings there , and accompanying him on one occasion , I satisfied myself that there are entrances all over Rome to them , with marked

galleries leading to different chambers , where they celebrate their rites . Cenna told me one day in a jesting tone that he intended being present at a Christian meeting . I paid little attention to this , but on hearing of his death , I made little doubt

that he had carried out his rash threat , been discovered , and suffered therefor . That is , in my opinion , the true cause . " " But why expose the body of their victim ? . Could they not have hidden it , out of sight ?"

" Perhaps , only they would reason in this way . Cossus has disappeared after denouncing the Stoics , suppose we let Cenna ' s body be found , suspicion will fall upon the Bacchanals whom he lias denounced , so that no danger will befall us .

There is something more to be considered . Perhaps the Bacchanals really did exist in the persons of these Christians . What if they had the house which Cenna protested so earnestly that they possessed . "

" You put the matter in a new light . You are convinced then that the Christians killed . Cenna ?"

" Undoubtedly . The facts are clear . " " You know their haunt in the catacombs ?" " One at least . Here is a sketch of the galleries . " Cassius carefully perused the sketch , and raising

his head suddenly asked : " Would you accompany a centurion and myself to the spot ?" "With the utmost pleasure , " replied Balbus , I came here to propose it to you . " " Very good . Wait here for an instant . "

The High Priest went out and despatched a slave for Sempronius andfour soldiers , who speedil y made their appearance . Cassius swore them to silence regarding their explorations , and then , led by Balbus , they descended by a secret entrance

into the catacombs . Cassius satisfied himself of the truth of Balbus' report . The chapel , the marked passages all were there .

" Could you place your men so ? " asked Cassius of Sempronius , "that they could command the passages leading out of this chamber . " " There are four , " answered Sempronius , " I have the men who could place themselves , where

not even a bat could see them—they would let all go in , none out . " " In fact make it a decent mousetrap . " "Yes . By the gods ! and a very decent mousetrap too . "

" That is so far good , we only want an opportunity—but that will come as a matter of course . We have nothing further to do here , so get you to your quarters , Sempronius , and see that the men do not blab . "

"No fears of that , Cassius . My men are tongueless at my command . A wine skin will silence them . " Balbus and Sempronius had not exchanged a word . Sempronius had been thunderstruck at the

march to the catacombs , and he was at first afraid that his own society had been the object of search . However much he was overjoyed to find his alarm groundless , he feared that a further search might lead to the discovery of their chamber , distant as

it was . True the marks on the passages were more difficult of discovery , but the catacombs once broken in upon , they too might have been discovered . What surprised him most was the presence of another condemned body in the place ,

which must have existed there for a long while , unknown even to him and his companions . A brief consideration showed him that on his part alarm was needless , for so intricate was the labyrinth of windings , with which the Stoics had surrounded their chamber that only treachery could reveal it . The distance too from the scene of the Christians '

operations rendered such a discovery almost impossible , whereas the Christian chapel being placed under Rome , might easily have been discoveredtheirs on the other hand was a long distance from the city . Sempronius never liked Balbus , he

could not tell why , and this discovery only deepened his dislike . A spy , he looked upon as the basest of mortals . Balbus , on his part , did not covet the attention of the Centurion . She , whom he had at home ,

was an ugly bar to any close acquaintanceship . Every moment since Lais had promised to marry him , was frought with danger in his eyes , he longed to get rid of Sempronia , that out of his sight , out of Italy , he might pursue without fear his grand