"What he heard brought deep grief to the heart of Eros. A slave bound in chains and expecting to die on the morrow, he could render no assistance to the noble patrician who was thus placed in such fearful jeopardy, and about whom I had so often spoken to him." Rufina then described how the life of Eros had been saved by the vestal Marcia. "As soon as he was at liberty," she continued, "he hastened to me, and told me what he had heard--I being better able to warn our friends than any one he knew. There was not a moment to be lost, he said, for that very day the assassins would set out on their search. Eros offered to accompany me; but this I declined, and hastened as fast as my feet would convey me to the entrance of the galleries. After much difficulty I found the ladies, Eugenia and Julia, with the patrician Gentianus; I warned them of the approach of the assassins, entreating Gentianus to fly with his daughter and Julia. "`I should only impede them,' he answered. `Rufina, I charge you conduct them to a place of safety; I will remain here; I am prepared for whatever Heaven will allow my enemies to do.' "In vain we pleaded with him. He made his commands imperative on us. `Seek for Severus, and warn him,' he added; `his life is of more value than mine; he may still live to preach the Gospel and to exhort sinners to turn to the Saviour.' Again he charged us to fly, in a way we could not disobey; and Eugenia, who had ever implicitly followed his commands, taking Julia by the hand, accompanied me in the direction I considered the safest. "Scarcely had we left the gallery when we heard the shouts of the assassins, as, led by their treacherous guide, they burst into the long-concealed chamber. I judged by their voices that they were expressing their disappointment at not discovering Severus. The guide, either knowing his way no farther, or having performed what he had undertaken, must have refused to lead them on, for they did not follow us, as I feared they would have done. I could not leave Eugenia and Julia, or I would have retraced my steps, and endeavoured to ascertain the direction they had taken. Judging by the sounds I heard, I believed that, dreading to remain in the gallery, they had endeavoured to regain the upper world." Jovinian trusted that such might be the case; but greatly feared they were more likely to have gone in search of Severus. He offered to try and find his way to the abode of Gentianus, if Rufina could give him sufficient directions. "I have been so many hours moving in the dark that I do not fear to make the attempt," he said, "and the lamp hanging to the roof, which it is not likely has been extinguished, will guide me when I approach the chamber." Eugenia, deeply anxious to know what had occurred to her father, gladly accepted Jovinian's offer. "Oh that I might go with, you!" said Julia, taking his hand.