Diogenes rebuked him, saying, “That he comes to us in Pancratius’s company is security enough.” “I own,” interposed the youth, “that I do not know as much about him as about Tiburtius, who is really a gallant, noble fellow. Torquatus is, however, very anxious to obtain all information about our affairs, and seems in earnest. What makes you fear, Severus?” “Only a trifle, indeed. But as I was going early to the cemetery this morning, I turned into the Baths of Antoninus.”[78] “What!” interrupted Pancratius, laughing, “do you frequent such fashionable resorts?” “Not exactly,” replied the honest artist; “but you are not perhaps aware that Cucumio the _capsarius_[79] and his wife are Christians?” “Is it possible; where shall we find them next?” “Well, so it is; and moreover they are making a tomb for themselves in the cemetery of Callistus; and I had to show them Majus’s inscription for it.” “Here it is,” said the latter, exhibiting it, as follows: CVCVMIO ET VICTORIA SE VIVOS FECERVNT CAPSARARIVS DE ANTONINIANAS.[80] “Capital!” exclaimed Pancratius, amused at the blunders in the epitaph; “but we are forgetting Torquatus.” “As I entered the building, then,” said Severus, “I was not a little surprised to find in one corner, at that early hour, this Torquatus in close conversation with the present prefect’s son, Corvinus, the pretended cripple, who thrust himself into Agnes’s house, you remember, when some charitable unknown person (God bless him!) gave large alms to the poor there. Not good company I thought, and at such an hour, for a Christian.” “True, Severus,” returned Pancratius, blushing deeply; “but he is young as yet in the faith, and probably his old friends do not know of his change. We will hope for the best.” The two young men offered to accompany Pancratius, who rose to leave, and see him safe through the poor and profligate neighborhood. He accepted their courtesy with pleasure, and bade the old excavator a hearty good night. [Illustration: Our Saviour blessing the Bread, from a picture in the Catacombs.] CHAPTER II. THE CEMETERIES. +=========================+ || M. ANTONI || || VS. RESTVTV || || S. FECIT. YPO || || CEVSIBI. ET || || SVIS. FIDENTI || || BVS. IN. DOMINO.][81]|| +=========================+ It seems to us as though we had neglected one, whose character and thoughts opened this little history, the pious Lucina. Her virtues were indeed of that quiet, unobtrusive nature, which affords little scope for appearing on a public scene, or taking part in general affairs. Her house, besides being, or rather containing, a title or parochial church, was now honored by being the residence of the supreme Pontiff. The approach of a violent persecution, in which the rulers of Christ’s spiritual kingdom were sure to be the first sought out, as the enemies of Cæsar, [Illustration: A Staircase in the Catacombs.]