Then, early the next morning, he turned his steps to the Quirinal.

As usual, he was straightway admitted to Heliodora's house, but had to wait awhile until the lady could receive him.

Gloomily thoughtful, standing with eyes fixed upon those of the great bust of Berenice, he was startled by a sudden cry from within the house, the hoarse yell of a man in agony; it was repeated, and became a long shriek, rising and falling in terrible undulation.

He had stepped forward to seek an explanation, when Heliodora's eunuch smilingly came to meet him.
'What is that ?' asked Marcian, his nerves a-quiver.
'The noble lady has ordered a slave to be punished,' was the cheerful reply.
'What is his fault ?' 'Illustrious, I know not,' answered the eunuch more gravely.
The fearful sounds still continuing, Marcian turned as though to hurry away; but the eunuch, following, implored him not to go, for his departure would but increase Heliodora's wrath.

So for a few more minutes he endured the horror of that unbroken yell.