Is your sword ready?
Now--" But at this instant Demetrius was cut short by a scream--scream of mortal terror--from within the Atrium Vestae.

There were shouts, howls, commands, moans, entreaties, shrieks.

Light after light blazed up in the building; women rushed panic-struck to the doorway to burst forth into the night; and at the open portal Agias saw a gigantic figure with upraised long sword, a Titan, malevolent, destroying, terrible,--at the sight whereof the women shrank back, screaming yet the more.
"Dumnorix!" shouted Agias; but before he spoke Demetrius had leaped forward.
Right past the sword-wielding monster sprang the pirate, and Agias, all reckless, was at his heels.

The twain were in the atrium of the house.

A torch was spluttering and blazing on the pavement, shedding all around a bright, flickering, red glare.