The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-15
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Il H E S I B Y L S
Il CLASSIC, CHRISTIAN NOTEE,
MILES GERALD KEON,
Author of Harding, tho Money Spinner" etc.
From the Catholic World.

(Contnued)
CHAPTER XII.
A short silence followed the concurIing ex-
clamations of Thellus and our hero, recorded
in the last chapter; and then the lanista
said:
" Before leave you, will! speak ono word
which came of the chance of uttering while
brought you that letter, but which would
not have pronounced had 1 found you to be a
person of different sort. You are really
Tiberius's prisoner, remember, although it is
to Velleius Paterculus you have given your
parole. 1 know, by personal experience and
much observation, the men and the things of
which you, on the other hand, can have only q
suspicion. Now, conjecture, it is hardly for
your own sake that you are in custody. Be-
ware of what may happen to those dear to
you; and as they have given no parole, send
them to some place of safety, some secret
place. There is no place safe in itself in the
known world. Roman liberty is no moro +;
secrecy is the sole safety remaining. Yale"
With these words the lanista departed, leav-
ing our young friend buried in thought. AS
he left tho court of the impluvium to seek his
mother, he remarked that Claudus had re-
turned thither, and was occupied in watering
some flowers in pots at the opposite angle ~
WONDER" thought he, "can that fellow have
overheard Thellus7 ~
Other and moro important matters, however,
were destined to invite his attention. We
have said enough to justify us in passing over
with few words every interval void of moro
than ordinary daily occurrences of the age
and land. What has been related and de-
scribed will sufficiently enable o reader of
intelligence to realize the sort of life which lay
before Paulus, his mother, and Agatha during
the next few days passed by them together at
the inn of the Hundredth Milestone.
or course Paulus detailed to his mother
what he had observed or heard, especially
Thellus's warning. Further, he propounded
thereon his own conclusions. The family
thought it well to summon Crispina and
Crispus to council; and it was finally re-
solved that Aglais should at once write to her
brother in, law, Marcus Emilus Lepdus, the
ex-triumvir, and ask temporary home under
his roof for herself and Agatha, with their
female slave Melena. Old Philip and Paulns
could remain at the inn for some time longer.
Aglais, Paulus, and the worthy couple who
kept the inn consulted together carrying
when the business of the hostelry was over
course to pursue should the triumvir, from
or any other motive, refuse shelter to
his brothers widow and childi During these
conferences Agatha and Benigna went to sit
apart, each engaged in some kind Of needle
W ork.
1t did not seem to the little council probable
that Lepidus would refuse the request sub
mitted to him, and if he acceded to it, Crispiua
assured Aglais that the castle of Lepidus at
Monte Circello, covering both the summit and
the base of a cliff upon the edge of the sea,
was sufficiently capacious, intricate, and laby |
rintbine to conceal good part of Roman |
legion in complete security.
Moreover, it had escapes both by land and |
by water; nor could any one approach it
without being visible to the inmates for miles |
Considering" reasoned Crispina, "that there !
is no pretext for ostensibly demanding the |
of the ladies, who have not COM
nitted any offence, and are not, or at all events
are not supposed to be, under any supervision, |
This retreat will afford all the security that !
IAN be desired. But Master Paulus must |
never go near you when once you leave this
,oof.D