He heard the crash of another falling door, and the voice of Teja now sounded from the study. He heard how the soldiers, who had pressed forward after Teja into the library, were demolishing the statues and busts of his ancestors. "Where is thy master, old man?" asked Teja's voice. The slave had taken refuge in the study. "I know not, by my soul!" "Not even here! Cethegus! coward! Where hidest thou?" It was now evident that the soldiers had also entered the study. Cethegus could no longer stand upright. He leaned against the marble statue of Jupiter, from which the hall took its name. "What shall be done with this house?" he heard some one ask. "It shall be burned!" cried Teja. "The King has forbidden that," answered the voice of Thorismuth. "Yes; but I have begged this house from the King. It shall be razed to the ground! Down with the temple of that devil! Down with the holiest of holies--this idol!" A fearful blow resounded. With a crash the Cæsar statue fell in fragments to the ground. Gold, jewels, and rolls of papyrus covered the floor. "Ah! the barbarian!" cried Cethegus, forgetting himself, and he was about to rush into the study with his drawn sword, when he fell senseless at the foot of the statue of Jupiter. "Hark! What was that?" cried a boyish voice. "The voice of the Prefect!" exclaimed Teja, and opening the door which led from the study into the hall, he sprang forward, swinging his battle-axe. But the hall was empty. A pool of blood lay at the feet of the Jupiter, and a broad track of the crimson fluid led to the window which opened into the inner court. The court was empty. But some Goths who entered it found the little door closed from outside; the key was still in the lock on the side of the street. When they had forced this door--some of them had also gone round from the front of the house--and had searched the side-street and the dwellings in it, they only found the Prefect's sword, which was recognised by Fidus, the secretary. With a gloomy look Teja took it up, and returned into the study. "Take up carefully all that was concealed in the Prefect's idol, particularly the writings, and carry everything to the King. Where is the King?" "When he left the Capitol, he, with all the Romans and Goths, went into the sanctuary of St. Peter, to attend a service of thanksgiving." "'Tis well. Go to him in the church and give him everything. Also the sword of the fugitive. Tell him that Teja sends it." "Thy order shall be obeyed," said Thorismuth. "But thou--wilt thou not go with us to the church?" "No." "Where wilt thou spend this night of victory, when all the others are giving thanks?" "I will spend it in the ruins of this house!" And he thrust the firebrand into the purple cushions of the Prefect's couch. BOOK V.--_Continued_. TOTILA.