He struck him on the shoulder with fatherly kindness, and descended the narrow flight of steps from the walls. Having reached the gate, he commanded the tuba-blower to hasten through all the quarters of the town, and summon the burghers to the Vindelician gate: in a quarter of an hour would the attack be made. Loud sounded the imperative tones in all parts of the town, and from every street the armed volunteers streamed forth to the north-western gate. One of the first was the fat Crispus, who came panting from his workshop hard by. He toiled along under an immense spear and shield. It was hot, and Crispus was old and corpulent. On his head, instead of a helmet, he carried a cooking utensil, in which, in peaceful times, the old Ancilla was accustomed to bake the--only too greasy--festival cakes! It was certainly now scoured quite bright, but it was somewhat too large, and at each step rattled about his ears. He did not present a very warlike appearance. Severus observed him with a shake of the head. "Now the will is good"---- "And the flesh is not weak!" mocked Cornelius. "But," continued Severus, "I would rather see thy slim nephew, the stone-mason. Why does he deny his arm to the Fatherland? Always with his young wife? Where is he?" "Here he is!" cried an entreating voice high above their heads. Crispus had not had time to answer--had only pointed towards the tower at the gate; and behind the barred window of the second story, Fulvius was to be seen eagerly stretching forth both hands. "Let me out, O general! Help me down, and with the spear I will thank thee!" "Severus," said Crispus eagerly to the astonished general, "order the gaoler--there he stands, in the doorway--to release him; Zeno the usurer has caused him to be imprisoned." "Bring the man out, Carcerarius!" commanded Severus. "I need such a strong youthful arm. Let him pay first his debt to the Fatherland. Should he fall, he will be free from every debt; should he survive, he will return to the tower." The gaoler hesitated; but a blow in the ribs which Cornelius impatiently dealt him altered his opinion. "I yield to force!" cried he, rubbing the assaulted spot. "What an iron, strictly obedient Roman soul!" exclaimed Cornelius. Immediately afterwards Fulvius sprang over the threshold, seized the shield and spear which were brought to him from the store of arms on the ramparts, and cried: "Out! out before the gate!" Well pleased, the eye of the general rested on him. "I praise such zeal! Thou longest for the battle?" "Ah, no, sir," answered the young man ingenuously, "only for Felicitas." While Severus turned away vexed, Crispus comforted his nephew. "I have been watching thy house from the wall. Compose thyself, no barbarian has yet crossed the river." "And the Tribune?" whispered the young husband. "Has not yet left the Capitol" "And Zeno?" "Is fully occupied in bringing his treasures into the town and hiding them."