“Well, now, I think,” said Torquatus, “we may come to the _arcosolium_, and finish this room. What are these pictures round it?” “If you look at the left side, you see the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The fish[104] is, you know, the symbol of Christ.” “Why so?” asked Torquatus, rather impatiently. Severus turned to Pancratius, as the better scholar, to answer. “There are two opinions about its origin,” said the youth, readily; “one finds the meaning in the word itself; its letters forming the beginning of words, so as to mean ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.’[105] Another puts it in the symbol itself; that as fish are born and live in the water, so is the Christian born of water, and buried with Christ in it, by baptism.[106] Hence, as we came along, we saw the figure of a fish carved on tombs, or its name engraven on them. Now go on, Severus.” [Illustration: The fishes and anchor.] [Illustration: The fishes and doves.] “Then the union of the bread and the fish in one multiplication shows us how, in the Eucharist, Christ becomes the food of all.[107] Opposite, is Moses striking the rock, from which all drank, and which is Christ, our drink as well as our food.”[108] “Now, at last,” said Torquatus, “we are come to the Good Shepherd.” “Yes,” continued Severus, “you see Him in the centre of the _arcosolium_, in His simple tunic and leggings, with a sheep upon His shoulders, the recovered wanderer from the flock. Two more are standing at His sides; the truant ram on His right, the gentle ewe upon His left; the penitent in the post of honor. On each side too, you see a person evidently sent by Him to preach. Both are leaning forward, and addressing sheep not of the fold. One on either side is apparently giving no heed to their words, but browsing quietly on, while one is turning up its eyes and head, looking and listening with eager attention. Rain is falling copiously on them; that is the grace of God. It is not difficult to interpret this picture.” “But what makes this emblem such a particular favorite?” again pressed Tiburtius. “We consider this, and similar paintings, to belong chiefly to the time when the Novatian heresy so much plagued the Church,” answered Severus. “And pray what heresy is that?” asked Torquatus, carelessly; for he thought he was losing time. “It was, and indeed is, the heresy,” answered Pancratius, “that teaches, that there are sins which the Church has not power to forgive; which are too great for God to pardon.” Pancratius was not aware of the effect of his words; but Severus, who never took off his eye from Torquatus, saw the blood come and go violently in his countenance. “Is that a heresy?” asked the traitor, confused.