I heard a promise made to-night which will do it, if there be the spirit of a Goth left in the poor besotted lad whom we know of.' 'Oh, he is all right at heart; never fear him.

But what was the promise ?' 'I will not tell till it is claimed.

I will not be the man to shame my own nation and the blood of the gods.

But if that drunken Prefect recollects it--why let him recollect it.

And what is more, the monk-boy who was here to-night--' 'Ah, what a well-grown lad that is wasted!' 'More than suspects--and if his story is true, I more than suspect too--that Pelagia is his sister.' 'His sister! But what of that ?' 'He wants, of course, to carry her off and make a nun of her.' 'You would not let him do such a thing to the poor child ?' 'If folks get in my way, Smid, they must go down.