The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

they paused short before the hiding place of Balbus , and ignorant and unsuspicious of the presence of an eaves-dropper , continued their talk . " Yes , " said he of Mars , " these city troubles alone keep Trajan from the East , where his

presence is urgently demanded , bvA his merciful policy will prevent the discovery of these miscreants . What a squeamish fancy it is , when he lias the names in his hands , not to seize upon the ringleaders . "

" The second letter too , that he has received . I cannot see that their being anonymous , prevents them beine- true . "

" He had the same foolish notions m the matter of the Christians , and commended Pliny for ignoring all such communications . A noble theory , but bad practice . " " Have you any idea when the Christians are to

be seized ? there has been abundant time . " " Not I . Cassius says the nest is cold , that they have been warned of the discovery of their haunts . A watch , has been kept , but no one came near . "

'' Yet they may meet elsewhere . " "The Catacombs are wide enough . I hear they extend some thirty miles . The whole army ¦ could not command such a distance , and the windings are most perplexing . "

" The Bacchanals have no haunt there ?" " No , then- orgies need a warm house . I think ¦ Cassius would not have been so bitter against them if they had asked him to join their society . " " He is a disgrace to the priesthood , clever man

as he is . The Flamen of Jupiter ought to look to his character , especially with such an exemplary wife . " " I hear he aspires to the Pontifex Maximus . " " Nay , he is over-ambitious—that he will never

obtain . Trajan seems not to know his character ?" " Few do . Wine and lust have led him

fearfully astray . "Do you know the leader , of these Bacchanals ?" " Balbus , you mean . I know him by sight , and as the author of a scurrilous work called the c Gentes Romae . '"

" Faith , in many points a true work , a bold man he to show up so many of the best Roman families . A Jew I think lie is , or some such vile reptile . " " I hear Caius Fabius affects him ?" " Or he Caius Fabius . I am sorry to see so

gallant a noble consort with him , but I presume he will be ignorant of his true character . A Cunning dog is Balbus . " " I would he and Marenna were arrested . We could learn enough from them by wholesale coercion ,

than we can otherwise hope for . What think yon ?" " The same . I wonder if any of them knows of the strange disappearance of the Vestal Sempronia !"

"Doubtless , birds of a feather fiock together , but the rain is over , let us go home . " Not till long after their footsteps died away , did Balbus leave his lurking place . When he did so his features were pallid with deadly feai , his knees knocked together , and he leant against the base of the statue to prevent himself from falling . He

saw a terrible abyss yawn to engulph him , death and open disgrace before him . He had been denounced , denounced by some one belonging to the society ; who could it be ? Marenna ' s name too coupled with . his . A cold dew broke out from

every pore of his body , as he thought of thafc banquet so fatal to Cenna . The others , who had been present had fled , could they have betrayed him ? He was in a horrible position , he , too , had better flee , till the storm should Mow past , but

would Lais go with him ? He ground his teeth as he thouglit how all might have been avoided by drafting Cassius into the Bacchanal ranks , and Cenna too , but the mischief was done , and the sole question was how to avoid

the storm . He must see Lais , everything depended upon her . ( To be continued . ) [ Tho Author reserves tho right of reproduction and translation . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TKB "IEISH I'BEESrASOS'S' CAEEXDAB . " For the information of " Hibernian in London , " I have a copy of the above for the present year . It may be obtained from the London publisher , Bro . R . Spencer , the Masonic Depot , 26 , Great Queenstreet , Lincoln ' s Inn-fields . Tho price is 2 s .

VAHKS 3 SSS . The darkness of Masonry is invested with a pure and dignified reference , because it is attached to a system of truth . It places before the mind a series of the most awful and impressive images . It points to tbe darkness of death and the obscurity of the grave , as tho forerunners of a more brilliant and neverfading light which follows at the resurrection of the just . Pigure to yourselves the beauty and strict