“The very same, my lord! And you promised me to remember....” “True, true--come to me in the course of the afternoon....” “Ah! my lord, but that will be too late. Eurymachus is in danger of his life....” “What, again!” “Oh! be merciful, most noble Quintus! Give us only five minutes audience! You alone can save him.” “Come in, then!” He led the way through the atrium into his private room. “My lord,” the flute-player began again, “I will tell my story shortly. Eurymachus rebelled against the Empress’ steward, who wanted to persuade him to all sorts of disgraceful conduct. Stephanus flogged him first, and then obtained permission to crucify him at the next festival. This I heard from the gate-keeper. But there was no festival fixed for yesterday, so there is still some hope, and we entreat you....” “Be calm--for the present your friend is in safety.” “Impossible--he is lying in chains....” “He _was_ lying in chains. His execution was fixed for yesterday, but at the last moment he was snatched from the jaws of peril.” “What?” cried Thrax Barbatus, speaking for the first time. “Did I hear you rightly, snatched from his fetters! Then Glauce was able to carry out what she proposed.” “Free?” said Euterpe, looking up at Quintus in bewilderment. “As I tell you.” “Oh, now I see it all!” cried Thrax Barbatus. “This pretended journey to Ostia--what had your husband to do in Ostia? And Philippus, my son, who has hardly been in Rome a week--why should he want to accompany Diphilus....” Then, seized with terror, he sank on the ground before Quintus and threw his arms round his knees. “Oh, my lord! do not take advantage of the rash words of a miserable father!” he exclaimed vehemently. “Do not betray, what my tongue let slip in my fear and anxiety.” “Be easy, old man!” said Quintus benevolently. “I am not one of the spies of the city-guard. Your friend is a hero, and courage always commands my sympathy.” “Thanks, thanks!” sobbed the old man, covering the young noble’s hands with kisses. “But tell me, pray, how it all happened; how is it possible that, in the midst of such a crowd of servants....” “All is possible to those who dare all. What I heard--and the merest accident prevented my being an eye witness--aroused as much astonishment in me, as in you. All the bystanders seemed to have been paralyzed. It was like an eagle in the Hyrcanian mountains,[204] swooping down on a lamb. One man particularly, a stalwart, broad-shouldered fellow, did wonders of valor....” Thrax Barbatus drew himself up with the elasticity of youth. Happy pride sparkled in his eyes, and an expression--a radiance, as it were, of beatific affection illuminated his rugged and strongly-wrinkled features.