"I might do much to avert it. You do not know what might be done. But even if I could do nothing, still I would not listen to this proposal now." "If I went to the emperor himself he would grant my prayer." "He would take you prisoner at once and put both of you to death." "I could send a messenger with my proposal." "The message would never reach him; or at least not until it would be too late." "There is then no hope?" said Marcellus mournfully. "None." "And you absolutely refuse to grant my request?" "Alas, Marcellus, how can I be guilty of the death of my friend? You have no mercy on me. Forgive me if I refuse so unreasonable a proposal." "The will of the Lord be done," said Marcellus. "I must hasten back. Alas! how can I carry with me this message of despair?" The two friends embraced in silence, and Marcellus departed, leaving Lucullus overcome with amazement at this proposal. Marcellus returned to the Catacombs in safety. The brethren there who knew of his errand received him again with mournful joy. The lady Caecilia still lay in a kind of stupor, only half conscious of surrounding events. At times her mind would wander, and in her delirium she would talk of happy scenes in her early life. But the life which she had led in the Catacombs, the alternating hope and fear, joy and sorrow, the ever present anxiety, and the oppressive air of the place itself, had overcome both mind and body. Her delicate nature sank beneath the fury of such an ordeal, and this last heavy blow completed her prostration. She could not rally from its effects. That night they watched around her couch. Every hour she grew feebler, and life was slowly but surely passing away. From that descent unto death not even the restoration of her son could have saved her. But though earthly thoughts had left her and earthly feelings had grown faint, the one master passion of her later years held undiminished power over her. Her lips murmured still the sacred words which had so long been her support and consolation. The name of her darling boy was breathed from her lips though his present danger was forgotten; but it was the blessed name of Jesus that was uttered with the deepest fervor. At length the end came. Starting from a long period of stillness, her eyes opened wide, a flush passed over her wan and emaciated face and she uttered a faint cry, "Come, Lord Jesus!" With the cry life went out, and the pure spirit of the lady Caecilia had returned unto God who gave it. CHAPTER XII. POLLIO'S TRIAL. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained praise." It was a large room in a building not far from the imperial palace. The pavement was of polished marble, and columns of porphyry supported a paneled dome. An altar with a statue of a heathen deity was at one end of the apartment. Magistrates in their robes occupied raised seats on the opposite end. In front of them were some soldiers guarding a prisoner.