They will seize her and bear her away; then Ursus can take her out of the city and hide her from the power of Rome.
And her face began to flush and smile.

Consolation entered her anew, as if the hope of rescue had turned to reality.

She threw herself on Acte's neck suddenly, and, putting her beautiful lips to Acte's cheek, she whispered: "Thou wilt not betray, Acte, wilt thou ?" "By the shade of my mother," answered the freedwoman, "I will not; but pray to thy God that Ursus be able to bear thee away." The blue, childlike eyes of the giant were gleaming with happiness.

He had not been able to frame any plan, though he had been breaking his poor head; but a thing like this he could do,--and whether in the day or in the night it was all one to him! He would go to the bishop, for the bishop can read in the sky what is needed and what is not.

Besides, he could assemble Christians himself.