He knew the neighborhood exactly, but could not fix places in the darkness.

Every moment they came to some narrow passage, or piece of wall, or booths, which he did not remember as being in the vicinity of the city.

Finally the edge of the moon appeared from behind a mass of clouds, and lighted the place better than dim lanterns.
Something from afar began at last to glimmer like a fire, or the flame of a torch.

Vinicius turned to Chilo.
"Is that Ostrianum ?" asked he.
Chilo, on whom night, distance from the city, and those ghostlike forms made a deep impression, replied in a voice somewhat uncertain,--"I know not, lord; I have never been in Ostrianum.

But they might praise God in some spot nearer the city." After a while, feeling the need of conversation, and of strengthening his courage, he added,--"They come together like murderers; still they are not permitted to murder, unless that Lygian has deceived me shamefully." Vinicius, who was thinking of Lygia, was astonished also by the caution and mysteriousness with which her co-religionists assembled to hear their highest priest; hence he said,--"Like all religions, this has its adherents in the midst of us; but the Christians are a Jewish sect.
Why do they assemble here, when in the Trans-Tiber there are temples to which the Jews take their offerings in daylight ?" "The Jews, lord, are their bitterest enemies.