They entered into a spacious court with a shed round it, filled with engines of torture of every form. Torquatus shrunk back. “Come in, masters, don’t be afraid,” said the old executioner. “There is no fire put on yet, and nobody will hurt you, unless you happen to be a wicked Christian. It’s for them we have been polishing up of late.” “Now, Catulus,” said Corvinus, “tell this gentleman, who is a stranger, the use of these pretty toys you have here.” Catulus, with good heart, showed them round his museum of horrors, explaining every thing with such hearty good-will, and no end of jokes not quite fit for record, that in his enthusiasm he nearly gave Torquatus practical illustrations of what he described, having once almost caught his ear in a pair of sharp pincers, and another time brought down a mallet within an inch of his teeth. The rack, a large gridiron, an iron chair with a furnace in it for heating it, large boilers for hot oil or scalding-water baths; ladles for melting lead, and pouring it neatly into the mouth; pincers, hooks and iron combs of varied shapes, for laying bare the ribs; scorpions, or scourges armed with iron or leaden knobs; iron collars, manacles and fetters of the most tormenting make; in fine, swords, knives, and axes in tasteful varieties,[116] were all commented upon with true relish, and an anticipation of much enjoyment, [Illustration: _Plumbatæ._ Whips made of brass chains to which are attached leaden balls.] [Illustration: _Volsellæ_, Tweezers or Tongs.] [Illustration: _Uncus_, or hook.] [Illustration: _Pectines ferrei._ Iron Comb.] [Illustration: _Uncus_, or hook.] [Illustration: Instruments of Torture used against the Christians. From Roller’s “Catacombes de Rome.”] in seeing them used on those hard-headed and thick-skinned Christians. Torquatus was thoroughly broken down. He was taken to the baths of Antoninus, where he caught the attention of old Cucumio, the head of the wardrobe department, or capsarius, and his wife Victoria, who had seen him at church. After a good refection, he was led to a gambling-hall in the Thermæ, and lost, of course. Fulvius lent him money, but for every farthing, exacted a bond. By these means, he was, in a few days, completely subdued.