“Then follow my advice. Do not tire yourself with hunting them down, and catching, after all, but mean prey; keep your eyes open and look about for one or two good fat ones, half trying to conceal themselves; pounce upon them, get a good share of their confiscation, and come with one good handful to get two in return.” “Thank you, thank you; I understand you. You are not fond of these Christians, then?” “Fond of them? I hate the entire race. The spirits which I worship are the deadly enemies of their very name.” And she grinned horrible a ghastly smile as she proceeded: “I suspect one of my fellow-servants is one. Oh, how I detest her!” “What makes you think it?” “In the first place, she would not tell a lie for anything, and gets us all into dreadful scrapes by her absurd truthfulness.” “Good! what next?” “Then she cares not for money or gifts; and so prevents our having them offered.” “Better!” “And moreover she is--” the last word died in the ear of Corvinus, who replied: “Well, indeed, I have to-day been out of the gate to meet a caravan of your countryfolk coming in; but you beat them all!” “Indeed!” exclaimed Afra with delight, “who were they?” “Simply Africans,”[41] replied Corvinus, with a laugh: “lions, panthers, leopards.” “Wretch! do you insult me thus?” “Come, come, be pacified. They are brought expressly to rid you of your hateful Christians. Let us part friends. Here is your money. But let it be the last; and let me know when the philtres begin to work. I will not forget your hint about Christian money. It is quite to my taste.” As he departed by the Sacred Way, she pretended to go along the Carinæ, the street between the Palatine and the Cœlian mounts; then turned back, and looking after him, exclaimed: “Fool! to think that I am going to try experiments for you on a person of Fabiola’s character!” She followed him at a distance; but as Sebastian, to his amazement, thought, turned into the vestibule of the palace. He determined at once to put Fabiola on her guard against this new plot; but this could not be done till her return from the country. [Illustration: Emblematic representation of Paradise, found in the Catacombs.] CHAPTER X. OTHER MEETINGS. When the two youths returned to the room by which they had entered the apartment, they found the expected company assembled. A frugal repast was laid upon the table, principally as a blind to any intruder who might happen unexpectedly to enter. The assembly was large and varied, containing clergy and laity, men and women. The purpose of the meeting was to concert proper measures, in consequence of something which had lately occurred in the palace. This we must briefly explain.