The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

schemes , Till she was gone , he felt as if he stood on the edge of a precipice , where every breath of heaven was sufficient to blow him to destruction . He therefore had no relish for the company of Sempronius , and although , in company , fond

enough of calling him " my friend , " he rather shirked the words in his presence . But conscience makes cowards of us all , especially when when we are villains . On leaving the catacombs , Cassius went direct

to the palace , and sought an interview with Trajan , which was at once granted him . "I have at length discovered the haunts of

the Christians , " he said as he entered the apartment , bursting in upon a council composed of the chief priests and the great officers of Rome . Caius was not present , being at the moment with Phryne , while Lycus was still abroad . The consequence

was that this important meeting passed without either of them being aware of what transpired , and the other officers did not care to speak of it . Cassius looked surlil y around at such a meeting being called without his being invited to attend ,

but it appeared it had been summoned in a hurry , and the messengers sent for him had not found him in , he being at the time engaged in searching the catacombs .

The meeting had been summoned by Trajan , after the receipt of certain letters from provincial governors , detailing the rapid spread of Christianity , which had aroused the wrath of the priests , who called out for the destruction of its professors .

This combined with the sudden and strange disappearance of Cossus , and the death of Cenna alarmed Trajan , and called upon him for urgent despatch . The Bacchanalian orgies , in a special manner , were obnoxious to the Emperor , who

determined , at all hazards , to extirpate these obscene rites from Rome . The council trembling for their jDOwer , denounced all the three sects with malignant hatred .

" How say you , " asked the Emperor , "you have discovered the haunts of these reptiles . Where are they , that we may at once crush and extirpate them from the land ?" " Beneath Rome , there exist , as doubtless you

are all aware , huge excavations , known only to certain persons , and so exceedingly dangerous that many parties , in an idle hour , seeking to penetrate their mazes , have lost their ways therein and most miserably perished . It now appears that the Christians have a key to these mazes ,

and there celebrate their infamous rites . I have their secret ?" " Ha ! how came you in possession of it ?" " There is a person , called Balbus , " began the priest .

" Balbus , the Jew . Is he a Christian ? " asked the Emperor testifying the liveliest surprise . " No , " replied Cassius , " he is a dandy . " Trajan exchanged a meaning smile with an old captain , named Dentatus , whom he much affected .

"I have learned as much , said the Emperor ,, " relative to the Christians . Among some old charts which a trusty friend bought , was a plan of the catacombs , marked with strange characters . These have been discovered to be the writing of

the Jews , and give minute directions for the finding out of various chambers cut out of the earth , and carefully concealed . As yet these chambers have escaped discovery , as the passages are very dangerous from the cause you have mentioned

Cassius . One thing we have however learned , that they set apart one day of the week for the celebration of their rites in a peculiar way , probably they eat or crucify children , which they call Sabbath , and it corresponds with our

Dies-Sons . " " I have the key to the catacombs , " said Cassius , and he detailed to the Emperor the conversation with Balbus , and his subsequent descent himself . " " It will be easy you say to march upon them

while so engaged , and entrap them all . " " Perfectly easy , there is no means of escape by other passages , when we barricade these . "

"Are you certain of the correctness of theplan ?" " Yes , I examined the ground myself . " " That is satisfactoty . Dentatus , place yourself aud your troops at the disposal of this

venerablefather , and obey him in all things . Semproniushas not a silent enough tongue for the carrying out of a great purpose . Have you discovered , anything of the Bacchanals ?" " I do not think any such exist . "

" You do not . Well , that may do for an afterthought . " The council broke up , and followed by Dentatus , Trajan entered a private chamber . "What think you of this new quarry ,

Dentatus " <" "It bids fair , but somewhat crosses your intentions towards Balbus . "