CHAPTER III.
Pentaur looked fixedly at the lad, who stood with no air of bravado about him, but with an expression of humble trust that the merchant could not fathom.
"Why shouldest thou risk death ?" questioned the merchant.

"Death will defeat a Christian." "Nay, O master!" exclaimed Timokles eagerly.

"Death may be glorious victory!" Pentaur smiled.
"Oh!" broke forth Timokles earnestly, "I know a death that was a glorious victory! Carthage knew of it! Didst thou not hear what was done last year at Carthage?
Didst thou not know of the Christian lady, Vivia Perpetua, and the Christian slave, Felicitas ?" A shudder ran through Pentaur, as Timokles continued: "Thinkest thou that what they suffered was nothing?
Vivia Perpetua was the best loved of a heathen father's children.

How she suffered in her heart, when her old father came to the prison and besought her to give up Christ! 'Daughter,' begged the old man, 'have pity on my gray hairs.

Have compassion on thy father!' He wept at her feet.
He begged her to have pity on her little child.