“Give it up, the roe is too fleet!” cried a coarse bass voice, and the pursuer turned on his heel, while two other men slowly came to meet him. All three were wrapped in thick cloaks,[258] with the hoods pulled down in spite of the heat. For a second Cornelia hesitated; then she boldly went forth and walked past the strange trio. They were talking together in an undertone, and yet not so softly but that Cornelia could hear a few words. “By Pluto!” said one. “There goes a beauty! I saw her face, as the boy’s lantern lighted it up.” “Aphrodite is gracious,” said the second, “to give us a substitute for the one who has escaped. I am just in the mood for an adventure. Let us follow the fair one.” Cornelia hastened her step, but before she had reached the main road she was surrounded. “Well, pretty pigeon,” a harsh voice croaked in her ear. “Out and about so late! And where are you flying, if I am allowed to ask?” Cornelia was at once aware, that these were not highway plunderers, but idle adventurers, and evidently men of rank and position. This at once restored her presence of mind, and she walked on faster than ever. But in vain. The man who had addressed her, a stout figure of medium height, with an extraordinarily confident and swaggering address, came close up to her and laid his left hand on her shoulder to detain her. Furious indignation boiled in her soul; she shook herself free and stood still. “Parmenio,” she said resolutely, “as you love your life, do as I bid you--I, the niece of the illustrious Cornelius Cinna. The first man who dares to lay a finger on the hem of this robe--strike him dead.” “That can be done in no time!” cried Parmenio, taking the bold intruder by the throat. The other two started back as if struck by lightning. “Mad fool, you shall die on the cross!” shrieked the man he had seized, directing a well-aimed blow with his fist. The slave dropped his arm in terror. There was a ring of such wild and tiger-like ferocity in the harsh tones, that the sturdy nature of the man was for the moment paralyzed. Cornelia and Chloe meanwhile had reached the high-road; Parmenio caught them up in a few strides, and they reached home safely under cover of the darkness. “You helpless idiots!” exclaimed the worsted victim, feeling at his throat. “What do you mean by staring as if it were a good joke, when a villain throttles me? You, Clodianus, have I loaded you with every honor and heaps of gold, that you should leave me in the lurch in this fashion? Take that for your loutish cowardice!” And Domitian flew at him with the fury of a panther, and struck him a tremendous blow in the face. Clodianus shrank back. “Forgive me!” he stammered, groaning with pain and rage. “I was so confounded at the man’s daring....” “Away! traitor.--Never let me set eyes on you again.”