CHAPTER XIX
MARCIANUS
When the deacon Baudillas and his faithful Pedo emerged from the river,and stood on the bank, they were aware how icy was the blast that blew,for it pierced their sodden garments and froze the marrow in their bones.
"Master," said Pedo, "this is the beginning of a storm that will last fora week; you must get under shelter, and I will give you certain garments Ihave provided and have concealed hard by in a kiln. The gates of the townare shut. I have no need to inform you that we are without the citywalls."
Pedo guided the deacon to the place where he had hidden a bundle ofgarments, and which was not a bowshot distant from the mouth of the sewer.The kiln was small; it had happily been in recent use, for it was stillwarm, and the radiation was grateful to Baudillas, whose teeth werechattering in his head.
"I have put here bread and meat, and a small skin of wine," said theslave. "I advise you, master, to make a meal; you will relish your foodbetter here than in the black-hole. Whilst we eat we consume timelikewise; but the dawn is returning, and with it the gates will be openedand we shall slip in among the market people. But, tell me, whither willyou go?"
"I would desire, were it advisable, to revisit my own house," said thedeacon doubtfully.
"And I would advise you to keep clear of it," said the slave. "Should thejailer discover that you have escaped, then at once search will be madefor you, and, to a certainty it will begin at your habitation." Then, witha dry laugh, he added, "And if it be found that I have assisted in yourevasion, then there will be one more likely to give sport to the people atthe forthcoming show. Grant me the wild beasts and not the cross."
"I will not bring thee into danger, faithful friend."
"I cannot run away on my lame legs," said Pedo. "Ah! as to those shows.They are to wind up with a water-fight--such is the announcement. Therewill be gladiators from Arelate sent over to contend in boats against afleet of our Nemausean ruffians. On the previous day there will be sportwith wild beasts. I am told that there have been wolves trapped during thewinter in the Cebennae, and sent down here, where they are retainedfasting. I have heard their howls at night and they have disturbed mysleep--their howls and the aches in my thigh. I knew the weather wouldchange by the pains in my joint. There is a man named Amphilochius, amanumitted slave, who broke into and robbed the villa of the master whohad freed him. He is a Greek of Iconium, and the public are promised thathe shall be cast to the beasts; but whether to the panthers, or thewolves, or bear, or given to be gored by a bull, that I know not. Thenthere is a taverner from somewhere on the way to Ugernum, who for yearshas murdered such of his guests as he esteemed well furnished with money,and has thrown their carcasses into the river. He will fight the beasts.There is a bear from Larsacus; but they tell me he is dull, has not yetshaken off his winter sleep, and the people fear they will get smallentertainment out of him."
"You speak of these scenes with relish."
"Ah! master, before I was regenerate I dearly loved the spectacles. Butthe contest with bulls! That discovers the agility of a man. FaleriusVolupius Servilianus placed rosettes between their horns and gave a prizeto any who would pluck them away. That was open to be contested for by allthe youths of Nemausus. There was little danger to life or limb, and ittaught them to be quick of eye and nimble in movement. But it was becausenone were gored that the spectators wearied of these innocent sports andclamored for the butchery of criminals and the contests of gladiators.There was a fine Numidian lion brought by a shipmaster to Agatha; a bigprice was asked, and the citizens of Narbo outbid us, so we lost that finefellow."
"Ah, Pedo! please God that none of the brethren be exposed to the beasts."
"I think there will not be many. The Quatuor-viri are slow to condemn, andPetronius Atacinus most unwilling of all. There are real criminals in theprison sufficient to satisfy an ordinary appetite for blood. But, see! weare discussing the amphitheater and not considering whither thou wiltbetake thyself."
"I have been turning the matter over, and I think that I will go first toMarcianus, my brother-deacon, and report myself to be alive and free, thathe may inform the bishop; and I will take his advice as to my futureconduct, and where I shall bestow myself."
"He has remained unmolested," said the slave, "and that is to me passingstrange, for I have been told that certain of the brethren, whenquestioned relative to the mutilation of the statue, have accused him byname. Yet, so far, nothing has been done. Yet I think his house iswatched; I have noticed one Burrhus hanging about it; and Tarsius, theysay, has turned informer. See, master! the darkness is passing away;already there is a wan light in the east."
"Had the mouth of the kiln been turned to the setting in place of therising sun, we should not have felt the wind so greatly. Well, Pedo, wewill be on the move. Market people from the country will be at the gates.I will consult with Marcianus before I do aught."
An hour later, Baudillas and his attendant were at the gate of Augustus,and passed in unchallenged. Owing to the furious mistral, accompanied bydriving rain, the guards muffled themselves in their cloaks and paidlittle attention to the peasants bringing in their poultry, fish andvegetables for sale. The deacon and his slave entered unnoticed along witha party of these. In the street leading to the forum was a knot of peopleabout an angry potter whose stall had been blown over by the wind. He hadset boards on trestles, and laid out basins, pitchers, lamps, urns on theplanks; over all he had stretched sail-cloth. The wind had caught theawning and beaten it down, upsetting and crushing his ware. The potter wasswearing that he was ruined, and that his disaster was due to theChristians, who had exasperated the gods by their crimes and impieties.
Some looking on laughed and asked, shouting, whether the gods did not blowas strong blasts out of their lungs every year about the same time, andwhether they did so because annually insulted.
"But they don't break my crocks," stormed the potter.
"Charge double for what remain unfractured," joked an onlooker.
"Come, master," said Pedo, plucking Baudillas by the sleeve. "If thatangry fellow recognize you, you are lost. Hold my cloak and turn down thelane, then we are at the _posticum_, at the back of the house. I know someof the family, and they will admit us."
Near by was a shop for flowers. Over the shop front was the inscription,"Non vendo nisi amantibus coronas" ("I sell garlands to lovers only").(10)The woman in charge of the bunches and crowns of spring flowers lookedquestioningly at Baudillas. Her wares were such as invited only when thesun shone. The poor flowers had a draggled and desponding appearance. Nolovers came to buy in the bitter mistral.
"Come, master, we shall be recognized," said Pedo.
In another moment they had passed out of the huffle of the wind and thedrift of the rain into the shelter and warmth of a dwelling.
Pedo bade a slave go to Marcianus and tell the deacon that someone belowdesired a word with him. Almost immediately the man returned with ordersto conduct the visitor to the presence of the master.
Baudillas was led along a narrow passage into a chamber in the inner partof the house, away from the apartments for the reception of guests.
The room was warmed. It was small, and had a glazed window; that is tosay, the opening was closed by a sheet of stalagmite from one of the cavesof Larsacus, cut thin.
In this chamber, seated on an easy couch, with a roll in his hand, whichhe was studying, was Marcianus. His countenance was hard and haughty.
"You!" he exclaimed, starting with surprise. "What brings you here? Iheard that you had been before the magistrate and had confessed. But, bah!of such as you martyrs are not made. You have betrayed us and got offclear yourself."
"You mistake, brother," answered Baudillas, modestly. "In one thing areyou right--I am not of the stuff out of which martyrs and confessors arefashioned. But I betrayed no one. Not that there is any merit due to mefor that. I was in such a dire and paralyzing fright that I co
uld notspeak."
"How then come you here?"
"As we read that the Lord sent His angel to deliver Peter from prison, sohas it been with me."
"You lie!" said Marcianus angrily. "No miracle was wrought for you--forsuch as you who shiver and quake and lose power of speech! Bah! Come, giveme a more rational explanation of your escape."
"My slave was the angel who delivered me."
"So you ran away! Could not endure martyrdom, saw the crown shining, andturned tail and used your legs. I can well believe it. Coward! Unworthy ofthe name of a Christian, undeserving of the cross marked on thy brow,unbecoming of the ministry."
"I know that surely enough," said Baudillas; "I am of timorous stuff, andfrom childhood feared pain. But I have not denied Christ."
"What has brought you here?" asked Marcianus curtly.
"I have come to thee for counsel."
"The counsel I give thou wilt not take. What saith the Scripture: 'He thatputteth his hand to the plough and turneth back is not fit for the kingdomof God.' Thou wast called to a glorious confession, and looked back andran away."
"And thy counsel?"
"Return and surrender, and win the crown and palm. But it is waste ofbreath to say such words to thee. I know thee. Wast thou subjected totorture?"
"No, brother."
"No; not the rack, nor the torches, nor the hooks, nor the thumbscrews.Oh, none of these!"
"No, brother. It is true, I was scarce tried at all. Indeed, it was goodluck--God forgive me!--it was through His mercy that I was saved fromdenying the faith. I was not even asked to sacrifice."
"Well; go thy ways. I cannot advise thee."
"Stay," said Baudillas. "I saw in the outer prison some of the faithful,but was in too great fear to recognize any. Who have been taken?"
"The last secured has been the widow Quincta. The pontiff and the _flamen_Augustalis and the priestess of Nemausus swear that she shall be put onthe rack and tortured till she reveals where her daughter is concealed,and that amiable drone, the acting magistrate, has given consent. Dostthou know where the damsel Perpetua is concealed?"
"Indeed, Marcianus, I know not. But tell me: hast thou not been inquiredfor? I have been told how that some have accused thee."
"Me! Who said that?"
Marcianus started, and his face worked. "Bah! they dare not touch me. Ibelong to the Falerii; we have had magistrates in our family, and oneclothed with the pro-consulship. They will not venture to lay hands onme."
"But what if they know, and it is known through the town, that it was thouwho didst mutilate the statue of the founder?"
"They do not know it."
"Nay, thou deceivest thyself. It is known. Some of those who were at theAgape have spoken."
"It was thou--dog that thou art!"
"Nay, it was not I."
Marcianus rose and strode up and down the room, biting his nails. Then,contemptuously, he said: "My family will stand between me and mob ormagistrate. I fear not. But get thee gone. Thou compromisest me by thypresence, thou runagate and jail-breaker."
"I came here but to notify my escape and to ask counsel of thee."
"Get thee gone. Fly out of Nemausus, or thy chattering tongue will be setgoing and reveal everything that ought to be kept secret." Then taking aturn he added to himself, "I belong to the Falerii."
Baudillas left; and, as he went from the door, Pedo whispered in his ear:"Let us escape to Ad Fines. We can do so in this detestable weather. Ihave an old friend there, named Blanda. In my youth I loved--ah! welladay!that was long ago--and we were the chattels of different masters, so itcame to naught. She is still a slave, but she may be able to assist us. Ican be sure of that; for the remembrance of our old affection, she will dowhat lies in her power to secrete us."
He suddenly checked himself, plucked the deacon back, and drew him againstthe wall.
An aedile, attended by a body of the city police, armed like soldiers,advanced and silently surrounded the house of Marcianus.
Then the officer struck the door thrice, and called: "By the authority ofPetronius Atacinus and Vibius Fuscianus, Quatuor-viri juridicundo, and inthe name of the Imperator Caesar Augustus, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Iarrest Cneius Falerius Marcianus, on the atrocious charge of sacrilege."