The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22

they now entered.
The master of admissions, glaneing round
the chamber, said, addressing the slaves in
general, "Claudius is not here, I perceive let
some one 90 for him. and say that the daughter
Of Crispus, of the One Hundredth Milestone,
has been charged to communicate to him the
pleasure of Tiberius Cesar touching his Sna-
mediate manumission; and that ], the master
of ADMISSIONS in the Mamurran palace, am to
add q circumstance or two which will COM
plste the information the damsel has to give.
Let some one therefore, fetch Claudius forth
with, and tell him that he keeps US waiting,
During this speech, which was rather POM
pously delivered, Paulus noticed that, close to
a second door in the chamber at the end oppo-
site to that where they had entered, young
slave was seated upon a low settle, with hide
belt round his waist, to which was padlocked
light but strong brass chain, soldered at the
neither link to o staple in the floor. This slave
now roso and opening the door, held it ajar
till of the clerks, after n brief whisper
among themselves, was detached to execute
the GRAND which the steward had delivered.
Tie slave closed the door again, the clerks re-
continued their writing, the steward half shut
his eyes, and leaned against pillar in an at
titude of serene if not sublime expectation
| and Paulus and Benigna waited in silence.
During the pause which ensued, Paulus be-
held the steward Suddenly jump out of his
| dignifed posture, and felt hand at the same
time laid lightly on his shoulder. Turning
round, he saw the youth who had few min.
utes before descended from the bronze chariot
"Ought I not to be acquaintance OF
yours 7" asked the newcomer with an agreea
BILE smile. "You are strikingly like one whom
have known. He was a valiant Roman
Lepidus Emilius, who helped, with Mark An
tony, to win the great day of Philippi."
| 81 am, indeed, his only son." said Paulus.
| "You and sister, 1 think" returned the
other, chad been left at home, in Thrace, with
your nurse and the servants, when some bust
ness a little more than three years ago brought
your father and his wife, the Lady Aglais, tt
Athens. There met them. Alas he is gone
1 have heard it. But where your mothe
and your sisterf"
Paulus told him.
"Well, request you to say to them tina
Dionysius. of Athens-so people style mere
members them with affection. 1 will visi
them and you. Do intrude if ask who il
this damsel 2" balancing kindly toward Benign.
who had listened with visible interest.)
Paulus told him, in q few rapid words, no
only who she was, but with distinct detail
upon what errand she had come.
He had scarcely finished when Claudius, tn
slave, arrived breathless, in obedience to tn
summons of the magister.
"The orders of Tiberius Cesar to me-" oh
served this functionary in a slow, loud voice
but with rather shamefaced glance at Dion
"are, that should see that you, Claudus
learnt from this maiden the conditions upoI
which he is graciously pleased to grant 20.
your liberty, and then that / should mysel
communicate something in addition"
90 Claudius" began Benigna blushinl
scarlet, I'VE, that is, not You, but IL wa
not fair, was not just to Tib--that is-jus
read this letter from the illustrious prefec
Sejnnus to my father"
Claudius very pale and biting his lip, raj
his eye in q moment through the document
and giving it back to Benigua, awaited tn
communication.
"Well," said she, "only this moment hav
learnt the easy, the trifling condition whic
the generous Cesar, and tribune of the people
attaches to his bounty"
There was q meaning smile interchange
0SS"RSN PA0oSA
except Benigua; and Claudius became ye
more palld.
"The project Sejanus has just told Mast,
Paulus," pursued the young maiden, tn,
you have only to break horse for Tiberi.
Cesar to obtain forthwith your freedom, an
Fifty thousand sesterces, too," she added in
| lower voice.
A dead silence ensued, and lasted for sever
- instauts.
:. Paulus Imilius, naturally penetrating al
G of q vivid though imperfectly min
/ discerned this much, that some mystery, sor
: not insight tcant secret, was in the act of di
- closure. The illnstIous visitor from Athe
e had let tho hand which lay on Paulu
d shoulder fall negligently to his side, and wi
his head thrown a little back, and q some W h
IT downward sweeping glance, was surveying t
10 scene. He possessed far higher order of i
l. tellect than the gallant and bright-witt
d youth who was standing beside him and h
received, in the largest measure that t
erudite civilization of classic antiquity COZ
10 afford, that finished mental training viii
"a was precisely what PauluS, however acco