Lucius had left his attendants at home, and now began to recall gruesome tales of highwaymen and bandits frequenting this region after dark.

His fears were not allayed by noticing that underneath his himation Pratinas occasionally let the hilt of a short sword peep forth.

Still the Greek kept on, never turning to glance at a filthy, half-clad beggar, who whined after them for an alms, and who did not so much as throw a kiss after the young Roman when the latter tossed forth a denarius,[60] but snatched up the coin, muttered at its being no more, and vanished into the gathering gloom.
[60] Four sesterces, 16 cents.
"Where are you leading me ?" asked Ahenobarbus, a second time, after all his efforts to communicate with the usually fluent Greek met with only monosyllables.
"To the _lanista_[61] Dumnorix," replied Pratinas, quickening an already rapid pace.
[61] Keeper of a school of gladiators.
"And his barracks are-- ?" "By the river, near the Mulvian bridge." At length a pile of low square buildings was barely visible in the haze.

It was close to the Tiber, and the rush of the water against the piling of the bridge was distinctly audible.

As the two drew near to a closed gateway, a number of mongrel dogs began to snap and bark around them.