sweeps which sounded across the calm water from the approaching galley. She came tolerably close in shore, and forged ahead past their lurking‐ place for some distance. Then the strokes of the cumbersome oars ceased, and the tones of a voice in command came over the water. The hollow plunge of an anchor immediately followed, and all dropped into silence for a time. The watchers now left their shelter, and went forward along the beach. Arriving at a small creek, at the base of one of the large boulders before described, they halted, and once again clustered in the shade. A rattling on board the galley, followed by a splash, struck their ears, and in a few minutes more, the proof of the justness of their dispositions appeared, in the shape of a small boat, directed with vigorous strokes toward their station. ‘Gently! just to the left of that biggest rock, and you can run us ashore,’ said a voice in the boat. Under this guidance the oarsman sent the keel of the little bark grating on the pebbles. ‘So,’ uttered the voice again, ‘that is perfection; and now we will go on shore, and you will not be sorry, I warrant, lady.’ A man leaped on land, and then helped two female forms to follow. When they were quite clear of the boat they found themselves surrounded by the party which had been awaiting them. The masked lanterns which the latter carried were uncovered, and cast a stream of light upon the features of the new arrivals. The two females, closely hooded, shrank away, with sudden fear to still further hide their faces; but the man was heard to laugh behind his cloak, which he had raised before his features. ‘You are amused,’ said Martialis, who was the foremost of the guard. ‘Who are you, and why are you here?’ At the sound of his voice, one of the muffled females started and swerved, so as to obtain a glance at the speaker, whilst, at the same time, her male companion dropped his cloak, and disclosed the handsome, swarthy, and smiling features of Tigellinus. An expression of disgust crossed the face of his questioner. A murmur and a slight laugh broke from his comrades. ‘A fair night to you, Centurion,’ answered Tigellinus; ‘I thought the shadow of that rock would hold some of you—it usually does. But you are not so well acquainted with me as some of the regular folk of the island.’ ‘A misfortune for me, doubtless,’ responded Martialis. ‘You have authority, I believe, to come and go at will?’ ‘Quite right, Centurion, I have,—as well as for whatever merchandise I can bring along with me. I go at once to my royal patron to offer what I have for his approval. I am afraid I must rob you of one of your men, Centurion, to go on an errand to the villa Jovis; I am sorry, but it is for Caesar’s sake, whom we must all obey. Had I been going thither myself direct, I might have spared the legs of some one else, but, you see, I have to look after the wellbeing of my two friends here.’