For he had hardly rejoined his brother visitors when the absorbing thought took word again, and he began questioning them eagerly for more information about Hypatia.
On that point, indeed, he obtained nothing but fresh invective; but when his companions, after talking of the triumph which the true faith had gained that morning, went on to speak of the great overthrow of Paganism twenty years before, under the patriarch Theophilus; of Olympiodorus and his mob, who held the Serapeium for many days by force of arms against the Christians, making sallies into the city, and torturing and murdering the prisoners whom they took; of the martyrs who, among those very pillars which overhung their heads, had died in torments rather than sacrifice to Serapis; and of the final victory, and the soldier who, in presence of the trembling mob, clove the great jaw of the colossal idol, and snapped for ever the spell of heathenism, Philammon's heart burned to distinguish himself like that soldier, and to wipe out his qualms of conscience by some more unquestionable deed of Christian prowess.

There were no idols now to break but there was philosophy--'Why not carry war into the heart of the enemy's camp, and beard Satan in his very den?
Why does not some man of God go boldly into the lecture-room of the sorceress, and testify against her to her face ?' 'Do it yourself, if you dare,' said Peter.

'We have no wish to get our brains knocked out by all the profligate young gentlemen in the city.' 'I will do it,' said Philammon.
'That is, if his holiness allows you to make such a fool of yourself.' 'Take care, sir, of your words.

You revile the blessed martyrs, from St.
Stephen to St.Telemachus, when you call such a deed foolishness.' 'I shall most certainly inform his holiness of your insolence.' 'Do so,' said Philammon, who, possessed with a new idea, wished for nothing more.

And there the matter dropped for the time.