"Go, Callias,"said he, forthwith to Sosia, and tell him, that on no pretence is he to suffer the blind slave Nydia out of her chamber. But, stay first seek those in attendance upon my ward, and caution them not to inform her that the blind girl is under my roof, Go quick!" The freedman hastened to obey. After having discharged his commission with respect to Ione's attendants, he sought the worthy Sosia. He found him not in the little cell which was apportioned for his cubiculum he called his name aloud, and from Nydia's chamber, close at hand, he heard the voice of Sosia reply:

" Oh, Callus, is it you that I hear? the gods be praised! Open the door, I pray you!"

Callias withdrew the bolt, and the rueful face of Sosia hastily obtruded itself.

What! in the chamber with that young girl, Sosia!

Proh pudor! Are there no fruits ripe enough on the wall, but that thou must tamper with such green Name not the little witch !" interrupted Sosia, impatiently, " she will be my ruin!" And be forthwith imparted to Callias the history of the Air Demon, and the escape of the Thessalian.

"Hang thyself, then, unhappy Sosia! I am just charged from Arbaces with a message to thee on no account art thou to suffer her, even for a moment, from that chamber."

Me miserum !" exclaimed the slave. What can I do ! by this time she may have visited half Pompeii. But to-morrow I will undertake to catch her in her old haunts. Keep but my counsel, my dear Callias."

I will do all that friendship can, consistent with my own safety. But are you sure she has left the house?. she may be hiding here yet."

How is that possible? She could easily have gained the garden ; and the door, as I told thee, was open.

Nay, not so ; for, at that very hour thou specifiest, Arbaces was in the garden with the priest Calenus. I went there in search of some herbs for my master's bath to-morrow. I saw the table set out ; but the gate I am sure was shut : depend upon it, that Calenus entered by the garden, and naturally closed the door after him."

But it was not locked."

Yes ; for I myself, angry at a negligence which might expose the bronzes in the peristyle to the mercy of any robber, turned the key, took it away, and as I did not see the proper slave to whom to give it, or I should have rated finely here it actually is, still in my girdle.

"Oh, merciful Bacchus ! I did not pray to thee in vain, after all. Let us not lose a moment. Let us to the garden instantly she may yet be there."

The good-natured Callias consented to assist the slave and after vainly searching the chambers at hand, and the recesses of the peristyle, they entered the garden.

It was about this time that Nydia had resolved to quit her hiding-place, and venture forth on her way. Lightly, tremulously, holding her breath, which ever and anon broke forth in quick, convulsive gasps now gliding by the flower-wreathed columns that bordered the peristyle now darkening the still moonshine that fell over its tessellated center now ascending the terrace of the garden now gliding amid the gloomy and breathless trees, she gained the fatal door to find it locked. We have all seen that expression of pain, of uncertainty, of fear, which a sudden disappointment of touch, if I may use the expression, casts over the face of the blind. But what words can paint the intolerable woe, the sinking of the whole heart, which was now visible on the features of the Thessalian? Again and again her small, quivering hands wandered to and fro the inexorable door. Poor thing that thou wert ! in vain had been all thy noble courage, thy innocent craft, thy doublings to escape the hound and huntsman? Within but a few yards from thee, laughing at thy endeavors--thy despair knowing thou wert now their own, and watching with cruel patience their own moment to seize their prey thou art saved from seeing thy pursuers !

"Hush, Callias !--let her go on. Let us see what she will do when she has convinced herself that the door is honest."

" Look ! she raises her face to the heavens she mutters she sinks down despondent ! No ! by Pollux, she has some new scheme ! She will not resign herself ! By Jupiter, a tough spirit ! See, she springs up she retraces her steps she thinks of some other chance ! I advise thee, Sosia, to delay no longer : seize her ere she quit the garden now !"

Ah ! runaway ! I have thee eh ?" said Sosia, seizing upon the unhappy Nydia.

As a hare's last human cry in the fangs of the dogs as the sharp voice of terror uttered by a sleep-walker suddenly awakened--broke the shriek of the blind girl, when she felt the abrupt grip of her jailer. It was a shriek of such utter agony, such entire despair, that it might have rung hauntingly in your ears forever. She felt as if the last plank of the sinking Glaucus were torn from his clasp. It had been a suspense of life and death ; and death had now won the game.

Gods ! that cry will alarm the house ! Arbaces sleeps full lightly. Gag her !" cried Callus.

Ah ! here is the very napkin with which the young witch conjured away my reason. Come ! that's right; now thou art dumb as well as blind."

And, catching the light weight in his arms, Sosia soon gained the house, and reached the chamber from which Nydia had escaped. There, removing the gag, he left her to a solitude so racked and terrible that out of Hades its anguish could scarcely be exceeded.