"Let free pardon be granted unto Arius, without conditions of any kind whatever. Let proclamation be made that the presbyter will be received into communion again, in thine own city and in thine own church, and then transferred to his old pastoral charge, the Baucalis church in Alexandria, and so recompense his sufferings with a triumphant return, and receive him at the church-door in thine own person!" "It shall so be done at once," answered Constantine. "No apologies or explanations to be demanded or received. Do thou immediately set a day, and carefully arrange all the details of the ceremony as thou wilt. I will have the old heretic here at the appointed time." And Eusebius with a glad heart set to work to carry the emperor’s design into effect. Some among the orthodox murmured, and on the evening before the day appointed, Alexander, the Bishop of Constantinople, was heard to exclaim, "Let me, or Arius, die before tomorrow!" But the emperor’s will could not be resisted; and, although the orthodox shuddered to acknowledge as a brother beloved and equal one whom they had always branded as a heretic, the secularized, imperial Church must commit treason or obey; for the royal oecumenical council had borne, along with other fruit, this, that a difference of religious faith and action might very easily constitute the crime of treason against the emperor. On the day which had been set apart for the solemn pageantry, Arius was brought by chosen officers to the lodgings where the Eusebii abode when in the city; but, designing to prepare for the long-imprisoned Libyan all the delightful surprise which a sudden realization of the great change in his condition might afford, the Eusebii had not permitted any one to inform him fully of the matters contemplated. They even doubted, also, whether the grand, ascetic, incorruptible old man would enter an imperial church to receive honor at the hands of an earthly sovereign unless he should be taken by surprise. When, therefore, the next morning, at the appointed hour, they took places upon each side of him, and invited him to walk with them and view the grand and beautiful metropolitan church, the ancient man went forth not knowing what special purpose was contemplated. And as they drew nearer unto the church, and beheld a vast concourse of people in holiday attire, and ranks of soldiers in magnificent array, with banners flying, and heard the mighty shouts that seemed to rend the heavens, "Glory to Constantine, the favorite of God!" "Long live Arius, the great and faithful presbyter!" the Libyan paused, and, gazing upon the Eusebii, inquired, "Bishops, beloved, what mean these mighty clamors, and these salutations of Constantine and Arius?" And they answered, "Father, come on with us and thou shalt gladly see." "Not a step more, until ye have told me all!"