“My son,--News has reached me of your disasters by sea and land on your journey towards Rome. This will reach you by the hand of the noble Antonius, who will by his goodness receive you into his household, to prepare you to take office in that of the Emperor himself. You refused the study of arms, to my great disquiet, therefore you must now study diligently to shape your manners after those of the young nobles at Rome. You must learn to sing, game, and become an adept on some instrument of music. You must study dress and deportment, and lie as occasion requires, when the flattery of your superiors demand it. My office in this distant province, amidst these barbarous tribes, has obliged me to live the life of the soldier only. You refused that life, therefore you must cultivate that of the courtier. “Have no more intercourse with the woman at whose house you lodged. I have directed that gold should be given her. Her son Caius did his part well, but, alas for Burrhus and his maniple! they are prisoners and slaves, and we doubt if a ransom would avail if offered. We must leave them to the gods. “I have received news also from my noble kinswoman Terentia Rufilla, that my daughter finds favour in her eyes, and that her beauty and wisdom are far beyond her years. “Her mother and yours sends greeting. Beware of the vile reptiles calling themselves Christians; it is told me that they swarm in Rome like ants. Here in Verulam we have done good work amongst them, and thanks are due to Valens and Claudius, who crushed out a goodly number in the forest beyond Radburn. The chief Amphibalus was done to death by stoning, and when the cell was opened on the morning after his execution, to our great astonishment the woman Agatha and the miserable slave Ebba were found dead. “Claudius lighted a pyre at once and the bodies were burned to ashes, before we knew we were saved the trouble of roasting them alive. We had been counselled to try burning, as execution by the sword, and even stoning, bore small fruit. Again, I say, beware of the Christians as of lepers and the plague. “Vale!” Neither of these letters was in the hand of Severus, who could wield the sword and battle-axe, but hardly a pen. They were written on the parchment roll in a clear hand by the man who fulfilled an office which we should call that of secretary to the Governor’s court. As Casca read this letter, his face betrayed surprise and emotion, which Antonius, lying back with half-closed eyes, was not slow to discern. “I crave leave,” Casca said, “to return whence I came till the morrow. I have books and parchments which I must have carried hither, and I must see good Clœlia, the mother of Caius, and take leave of her.”