“Well, then He will not look harshly on a girl who acts thus to save her life.” “I should be false to myself as well as to Him.” “I cannot understand this——” “No, because you do not know and love Him.” “Love Him!” echoed Æmilius, “He is dead. You never saw Him at any time. It is impossible for any one to love one invisible, unseen, a mere historical character. See, we have all over Gallia Narbonensis thousands of Augustals; they form a sect, if you will. All their worship is of Augustus Cæsar, who died before your Christ. Do you suppose that one among those thousands loves him whom they worship, and after whom they are named, and who is their bond of connection? No—it is impossible. It cannot be.” “But with us, to know is to love. Christ is the power of God, and we love Him because He first loved us.” “Riddles, riddles!” said Æmilius, shaking his head. “It is a riddle that may be solved to you some day. I would give my life that it were.” “You would?” “Aye, and with joy. You risked your life for me. I would give mine to win for you——” “What?” “Faith. Having that you would know how to love.” CHAPTER XIX MARCIANUS When the deacon Baudillas and his faithful Pedo emerged from the river, and stood on the bank, they were aware how icy was the blast that blew, for it pierced their sodden garments and froze the marrow in their bones. “Master,” said Pedo, “this is the beginning of a storm that will last for a week; you must get under shelter, and I will give you certain garments I have provided and have concealed hard by in a kiln. The gates of the town are shut. I have no need to inform you that we are without the city walls.” Pedo guided the deacon to the place where he had hidden a bundle of garments, and which was not a bowshot distant from the mouth of the sewer. The kiln was small; it had happily been in recent use, for it was still warm, and the radiation was grateful to Baudillas, whose teeth were chattering in his head. “I have put here bread and meat, and a small skin of wine,” said the slave. “I advise you, master, to make a meal; you will relish your food better here than in the black‐hole. Whilst we eat we consume time likewise; but the dawn is returning, and with it the gates will be opened and we shall slip in among the market people. But, tell me, whither will you go?” “I would desire, were it advisable, to revisit my own house,” said the deacon doubtfully. “And I would advise you to keep clear of it,” said the slave. “Should the jailer discover that you have escaped, then at once search will be made for you, and, to a certainty it will begin at your habitation.” Then, with a dry laugh, he added, “And if it be found that I have assisted in your evasion, then there will be one more likely to give sport to the people at the forthcoming show. Grant me the wild beasts and not the cross.” “I will not bring thee into danger, faithful friend.”