Pratinas was awaiting him.

The Greek had only a few words of greeting, and the curt injunction:--"Draw your cloak up to shield your face, and follow me." Then they passed out from the Forum, forced their way through the crowded streets, and soon were through the _Porta Ratumena,_ outside the walls, and struck out across the Campus Martius, upon the Via Flaminia.

It was rapidly darkening.

The houses grew fewer and fewer.

At a little distance the dim structures of the Portico and Theatre of Pompeius could be seen, looming up to an exaggerated size in the evening haze.