“Words could not tell you how I have longed to go swimming in the public baths with the rest of my kind, as a lady should.” The messengers returned with the news that the fire had started near the round end of the Flaminian Circus, close to the Temple of Bellona. Before a strong wind it had spread both ways, had caught everything in the north slope of the Capitol between it and Trajan’s Forum: the silver-smiths’ shops were all ablaze; to the south it had crept between the slope of the Capitol and the theatre of Marcellus and was sweeping over the booths of the Vegetable Market. “It is the biggest fire in our time,” said Lutorius. “Where will it stop?” queried Numisia. Both sent their lictors to make further report. Before the dinner was half over they returned, with messengers from the Atrium. The conflagration was roaring up the Vicus Jugarius and Gargilia was alarmed. Lutorius and Numisia hastily excused themselves, called for their shoes and went off; he in his litter and she in her carriage. As Brinnaria was about to cut the wedding cake her former lictor, Barbo, thrust himself into the dining-hall, frantic with concern, and narrated how the fire was beyond any hope of control and was already devouring the Basilica Argentaria and Basilica Julia. “Lutorius has had the sacred fire carried out of the Temple in a copper pan by Gargilia and Manlia,” he said, “and Terentia and Numisia, with little Campia, were helping Causidiena along the Holy Street. Causidiena had an earthenware casket in her arms. I saw them turn the corner to their right into Pearl-Dealers Lane. They are safe in the Palace by now.” “Safe in the Palace?” Brinnaria echoed. “Yes,” Barbo repeated. “Safe in the Palace. They say that the Temple and the Atrium must burn, nothing can save them.” “The Temple!” cried Brinnana. “Fire! And everybody ill except Gargilia and Numisia! And all they could think of would be saving that dear old blind saint and that contemptible cry-baby. Ten to one they have missed the Palladium and taken one of the dummies by mistake! “O, Almo, I must go save the Palladium!” Of course Almo protested. “Don’t hinder me,” she begged. “Go I must, whether you object or not. We’d never forgive ourselves if to-morrow we learned too late that the Vestals missed the true Palladium in the confusion, whereas I might have saved it if I had tried. They may have taken the real Palladium; I may be too late now to save it if they made a mistake, but I am bound to try.” He shut his lips, but she read his eyes. “That is like my hero,” she said. “Patriotism first, self last. “Barbo,” she called, “run before me and clear the way as if I were still a Vestal. It’s illegal, but it will work.” She started for the house-door and then paused. “Have you any fire buckets?” she asked Almo. “Then have two of the slaves each fill a bucket and keep close behind us.”