“Thou art early in thy zeal for the gods, brave Claudius, but thy strong arm yesterday did such good service that I am willing to leave thee in command here of a handful of soldiers large enough for the occasion. One of the women looks dead already, and will save us further trouble. As to the rest, I think the Governor may desire to apply torture before finally disposing of them. By the gods, Claudius, what fools these Christians are!” “Fools, indeed,” said Claudius. “I do not care what short work I make with the men. I slew three yesterday, after a fierce tussle, but women--weak women--well, I’d as lief not crush them out.” “Who are these two women?” Valens asked. “One belongs to the family of the soldier who refused to strike off Alban’s head.” “Ah! then she is a dangerous reptile. The other looks harmless, poor wretch; and what hair--like the autumn leaves with the sun on it!” “Yes,” Claudius replied, hastily, “yes, she is a Briton, methinks.” “Has aught been heard of the runaway slave of the noble Severus? He offered a high price for her head.” “Nay, not that I know of. He has forgotten it ere now; the fair Cæcilia has supplied her place by a Greek, so Junia, my sister, affirms.” Valens shrugged his broad shoulders. “The fair Cæcilia has freed herself of all burdens now. That little daughter of hers, and the weakling Casca, are sent off to Rome under Burrhus’s convoy; the maiden is to be buried for life in the Temple of Vesta. Why, her beauty, at this tender age, is enough to turn the heads of a legion. Perhaps it has turned thine, good Claudius!” “I have something else to think of than fair faces,” said Claudius. “Has news arrived of Burrhus’s reaching Rome?” he asked, carelessly. “Nay, I am not so like to hear as thou art. Thy sister, Junia, is continually a guest in the house of Severus. He is a high and mighty man, forsooth; they call him second to the Governor. Methinks he has more power than the Governor: and I must not delay any longer, but seek both noble personages and find out their will, and I think I may claim a reward for the last day’s work. We tracked out the wretches cleverly enough, and came upon that band of thirty with a swoop. Catching the chief, Amphibalus, was somewhat a greater catch than if we had only surprised the others.” “We were saved that trouble by the Welsh folk,” Claudius said. “A man came in this morning to say not one of the eight hundred is left.” “Nay, but that is good hearing. I can now claim my reward with some assurance. Crushing out the whole swarm of Christians was more than was expected. I’ll put in your claim, young Claudius; which shall it be, a gold chain or a slave, eh!” “I desire neither,” said Claudius, haughtily. “Methinks we Britons want no slaves, and as to gold collars, let my sister have the chain, if one be accorded. Commission for foreign service is the only reward I claim.”