He stood before the spoilers of his home, changed in an instant from the courageous enthusiast to the feeble, helpless, heart-broken man.
Though all the ferocity of his old Roman blood had been roused in Vetranio, as he threatened Ulpius, the father's look of cold, silent, frightful despair froze it in his young veins in an instant.

His heart was still the impressible heart of youth; and, struck for the first time in his life with emotions of horror and remorse, he advanced a step to offer such explanation and atonement as he best might, when the voice of Ulpius suspended his intentions, and made him pause to listen.
'She passed me in the hall,' muttered the Pagan, doggedly.

'I did my part in betraying her into your power--it was for you to hinder her in her flight.

Why did you not strike him to the earth,' he continued, pointing with a mocking smile to Numerian, 'when he surprised you?
You are wealthy and a noble of Rome; murder would have been no crime in you!' 'Stand back!' cried the senator, thrusting him from the position he had hitherto occupied in the door-way.

'She may be recovered even yet! All Rome shall be searched for her!' The next instant he disappeared from the room, and the master and servant were left together alone.
The silence that now reigned in the apartment was broken by distant sounds of uproar and confusion in the streets of the city beneath.
These ominous noises had arisen with the dawn of day, but the different emotions of the occupants of Numerian's abode had so engrossed them, that the turmoil in the outer world had passed unheeded by all.