The crowd was restless and noisy; heaving to and fro like the fiery mass of a boiling crater. A thousand exclamations and imprecations filled the air. I thought it doubtful whether the rage which seemed to fill a great proportion of those around me would so much as permit the Christian to open his mouth. It seemed rather as if he would at once be dragged from where he stood to the Prefect's tribunal, or hurled from the steps and sacrificed at once to the fury of the populace. But, as the cries of his savage enemies multiplied, the voices of another multitude were lifted up in his behalf, which were so numerous and loud, that they had the effect of putting a restraint upon the others. It was evident that Macer could not be assailed without leading to a general combat. All this while Macer stood unmoved, and calm as the columns of the capitol itself--waiting till the debate should be ended and the question decided--a question of life or death to him. Upon the column immediately on his right hand hung, emblazoned with gold, and beautiful with all the art of the chirographer, the edict of Aurelian. It was upon parchment, within a brazen frame. Soon as quiet was restored, so that any single voice could be heard, one who was at the foot of the steps and near the preacher cried out to him, 'Well, old fellow, begin! thy time is short.' 'Young man,' he replied, 'I was once old in sin, for which God forgive me!--now I am old in the love of Christ, for which God be thanked!--but in years I am but forty. As for time!--I think only of eternity.' 'Make haste, Macer!' cried another voice from the crowd. 'Varus will soon be here.'