"Are we in these days thus to neglect our ancient customs?" exclaimed Fausta. "That she is young and beautiful is no reason why she should escape the punishment which is her due." The pontiff made no reply; perhaps even he discerned the love of cruelty which the remark of the ancient priestess exhibited. "I am thankful I have not to submit to the discipline which the old virgin is inclined to inflict on her disciples," muttered Gaius. "I would as lief see a tigress deprived of her cubs placed in charge of a flock of sheep as a band of young maidens given to the custody of a bitter old woman like Fausta. If they were not inclined to act naughtily before, they would be driven to do so, in very despair, when subject to her tender mercies." "We can delay no longer," said Coecus to the elder vestal; "let the criminal be brought forth and placed in the litter." His orders were obeyed. After a short interval a figure, closely veiled, in coarse attire, was conducted out, and unresistingly placed in the litter. Coecus then gave the word to the bearers and attendants to move on. Fausta and three other vestals accompanied the funeral procession, but no weeping relatives and friends--as in most instances would have been the case--followed Coelia. She was alone in the world, without loving kindred. Her male relations were far away with the armies of the emperor, and her mother, sisters, and female connexions, had been removed by death since she, in her extreme youth, had been dedicated by her heathen father to the service of the goddess. She was thus considered a fit victim, whose barbarous fate there was no one to revenge. Marcia had spoken of her as her sister, but she was a sister only of the affections. Slowly the mournful procession moved on, and a stranger would have supposed that a corpse was being borne to the funeral pile; but those who watched at a distance knew well--from the direction it was taking, to the Campus Sceleratus--that there was a terrible fate prepared for the occupant of the litter. Such a spectacle had not been for a long time seen in Rome, and did not fail to attract a large number of the population.