The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

company us , and the marriage must be postponed . " " There is no necessity . Go you with me ?" "Well , call to-morrow morning , and we will consider further of the matter . There may be no

danger . Go down stairs ; you will find them in the baths . Stay dinner . " Balbus obeyed her with much uneasiness . Her reasons , though specious , seemed to him to have a false ring about them , and a presentiment of

evil haunted him . He could not fix upon anyone the character of being au informer , but a cold sweat broke over him when he remembered who

lie had at home . Prudence warned him to fly at once , without waiting for Lais , but there was a jspell upon him which he could not throw off , a , spell which was to be his death . Still so strongwas the feeling that he might have escaped had

not Murfcius met him . There could be no dansrer at all events in waiting another day . Lais sat motionless , a hard cold glitter in her eyes . She was resolved once more to try the Emperor , and with a power which would not fail to rouse him . Taking up a sheet of papyrus she , after some deliberation , wrote : —

" To Gcesar , these"Twice have I written you , denouncing the murderer of Cenna and his accomplices . You have taken no notice of these letters , or you have not received them . This will reach you by a

sure channel . Marenna purposes leaving R . ome to-night for the north , Balbus to-morrow for across the sea . Rome desires to know what has become of the Vestal Virgin , Sempronia . Let Cmstxv search the house of Balbus , and he will discover all . "A FEIEND TO ROME . "

Carefully tying up this precious document , she addressed it to Trajan , under care of the Pontifex Maximus , and on the cover she wrote , " Concerning the Vestal Virgins . " Calling a trusty slave to her , she charged him to see that the Pontiff got

it safely . The slave set out for the temple , where the Pontiff was engaged with the augurs in diviuition . The slave marked his opportunity , and handed the letter to one of the priests , who delivered it to the Pontiff . No sooner was it in the

Pontiff ' s hand , than the slave slunk away out of sight . He saw the Pontiff ' s astonishment on reading the words beside the superscription . He demanded of ihe Priest who had brought the

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

letter , but on turning round to point out the messenger , the slave had disappeared . Lais drew a sigh of relief , when she heard the tidings of her slave . ( To le continued . ) [ The Author reserves tho right of reproduction and translation . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE COIIPASS AXJD SQCAEE . On the front of a house near the Masonic Temple , Plymouth , may be seen a huge compass and square with these words—Keep within , And you will be sure To avoid all evils That others endure . —V . B .

THE CAMPASS AND SQUARE . In the grave-yard of Maker Churcli , Cornwall , may be seen a tombstone recording the virtues of a lady who died in the latter part of the last century , the whole surmounted by a square and compass . Is this customary in other parts of the country ?—V . B .

ADOPTIVE EEEEIIASOSTEX IK EEANCE . A Correspondent ' s strictures contained in a paper entitled "Adoptive Preemasonry in Prance" are wrong and unjust . The history of the Craft shows that this kind of Preemasonry has its origin in the praiseworthy desire of certain royal and noble ladies at the commencement of the reign of Louis XVI . to emulate the charitable acts of their fathers , brothers , husbands , sons , —members of our excellent Institution . —CHAELES PUETOH" COOPEE .

THE DUTCHESS OE OEEEAKS , MOTHEE OE KKTG 10 UIS PHILIP . The daughter of the Past Master of a West Kent Lodge is right in regard to her first conjecture . The Dutchess of Orleans , who promoted the establishment of Adoptive Freemasonry in Prance , was the mother

of King Louis Philip . I do not recollect to have read that she was ever Grand Mistress of a lodge . Her piety and charity were remarkable . The date of her birth is 1753 , that of her death , 1821 . I never was at Dreus . In the ' ¦ ' Biographic Universelle " there is the following : "Dans le mois de

passage Septembre , 1 S 1 G , la Duchesse d'Orleans , se rendit h Dreui " , pour y poser la premiere pierre d ' un monument oil furent reimis les restes des Princes qui avnienfc hahite le chateau d'Anet ; ces restes avaient ete conserves par le Zele de quelques serviteurs

fideles . " I must beg nry fair correspondent to consult my communication : •' ¦ ' The Duke of Orleans CEcjalili )' , ' page 370 of the present volume , in regard to her second conjecture . In it she will perceive she is not quite so happy as in the first . —CHAEEES PUETOS" COOPEE .

WHAT DOES IT 3 IEAX ? The diagram of which I annex a proof I lately found in an old manuscript . Can you inform me