The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-15


We waited first to consult YOU" said
Aglais; "and," added Agatha, there is an
other singular thing-we have not seen Be-
nigna all day, who was so regular in attending
upon us. The hostess told US that Bengna
was So offering with bad headache and when
wanted to go and tend her, Crispina hindered
me, saying she had lain down and was irving
to Sleep
"What about the lover ~ inquired Paulus-
the slave Claudiusf"
" He has gone away all of a sudden, though
his holiday has not expired. l really SUSPECT
that Benigna and he must have had a quarrel
and that this is why he has left the place, and
why Benigna is SO ILL.,"
The water clock, on the floor in n corner,
showed that 1t was now past the time when
their evening repast was usually prepared.
lhey were wondering at the delay, when Girls
pus, first knocking at the door which led from
the passage, entered. He seemed alarmed
They put various questions to him which the
circumstances rendered natural, showing him
the paper that had been dropped on the land.
ing. lie said that he thought he could make
pretty good surmse about that matter ; but
inasmuch rs Benigna, who had been crying out
her little heart, was much better, and had de-
clared she would come herself when thew had
supped, and tell them everything, he would
prefer to leave the recital to her, if thew wopld
permit him.
Meanwhile he confirmed tho news that the
emperor had arrived at the neighboripg town,
that the festivities had begun at the Mamurran
palace, and that in day two the public
part of the entertainments, the shows and
battles OF the circus, which would last for
several successive mornings and evenings,
would DO opened. He said it was usual to
publish sort of promissory plan of these
entertainments; and he expected to receive.
through the Kindness of friend at court. m
slave,) some copios of the document carl,f near
morning, when lecnilGren. his Z
thss NJ BSrr hasten to place it in
, ~E nands. While thus speaking to them |
with air of affected checrfulness, be laid !
the table for supper. Actuated by a curiosity |
in which good deal of uneasiness was min
glcd, since he would not himself tell them all
they desired to know, they requested him to 90
and send Bcngna as soon as possible and
when at last no retired with this injunction
they took their supper in unbroken silence.
Bengna came. Tho secret was disclosed,
and it turned slow growing apprehension into
present and serious alarm.
What Claudius n spy! The spy of Tho
rius sot rs q sort of secret sentry over us, Who
would have thought it ?"
Bcnigna, turning very red and very pale by
turns, had related what she had learnt, and
how she had acted. Little knowing either the
secret ties between her mother and this half
Greek family, or the interest and affection she
e
told her that she might help most materially
in a business of moment intrustcd to him by
his master; adding that, if he gave the Caesar
satisfaction in this, he should at once obtain
his liberty, and then they might be married
She answered that he must know how ready
she was to further his plans, and bade him ex-
plain himself, in order that she might learn
how to afford him immediately the service
which he required. But no sooner had she
understood what wero his masters commands
than she was filed with CONSERVATION. She
informed him that her father and mother would
submit to death rather than betray the last
scions of the Amilan race, and that she her
self would spurn all tho orders of Tiberius be-
fore she would hurt hair of their heads. She
mentioned, with little sob that she had furth-
er informed Claudius that she never would es.
pousc man capable of plottiug mischief against
them. Upon this announcement Claudius had
behaved in way I" worthy of any thing" He
then and there took an oath to renounce the
mission he had undertaken. He had neither
known its objects nor suspected its villainy
Int Benlgna, whose mind he thus relieved, he
hIled with now anxiety by expressing his
conviction that Tihcrius Caesar would forth
with destroy him. However, of this he had
now gone TO take his chance.
Did Clandius," asked Paulus, "intcud to
tell the Caesar that he disapproved of the ser
wee upon which he had been sent and would
not help TO execute it ~
No, sir" said Benigua. ave were II long
time consulting what he should and what he
could say. llo is very timid it is his only
tAult. lilo Is going to throw all tho blame
upon me, and thus he will mention that i, til at
ne, that we, were going to be married. and
that, in order the moro etfectua lly to watch
the movements of ladies to whom he personally
could get no access nnder this roof the bright
notion had occurred to him to enlist nv SER
vices, so as to render it impossible that these
ladies should escape him; or that their move
ments should remain unknown, when 10 I'M
fortunately for his plan, he finds love these