EVERY drop of blood quivered in the young patrician at sight of her. He forgot
the crowd, the old man, his own astonishment at the incomprehensible things
which he had heard, -- he saw only her. At last, after all his efforts, after long
days of alarm, trouble, and suffering, he had found her! For the first time he
realized that joy might rush at the heart, like a wild beast, and squeeze it till
breath was lost. He, who had supposed hitherto that on "Fortuna" had been
imposed a kind of duty to accomplish all his wishes, hardly beJieved his own
eyes now and his own happiness. Were it not for that disbelief, his passionate
nature might have urged him to some unconsidered step; but he wished to
convince himself first that that was not the continuation of those miracles with
which his head was filled, and that he was not dreaming. But there was no doubt,
-- he saw Lygia, and an interval of barely a few steps divided them. She stood in
perfect light, so that he could rejoice in the sight of her as much as he liked. The
hood had fallen from her head and dishevelled her hair; her mouth was open
slightly, her eyes raised toward the Apostle, her face fixed in listening and
delighted. She was dressed in a dark woollen mantle, like a daughter of the
people, but never had Vinicius seen her more beautiful; and notwithstanding all
the disorder which had risen in him, he was struck by the nobility of that
wonderful patrician head in distinction to the dress, almost that of a slave. Love
flew over him like a flame, immense, mixed with a marvellous feeling of yearning,
homage, honor, and desire. He felt the delight which the sight of her caused him;
he drank of her as of life-giving water after long thirst. Standing near the gigantic
Lygian, she seemed to him smaller than before, almost a child; he noticed, too,
that she had grown more slender. Her complexion had become almost
transparent; she made on him the impression of a flower, and a spirit. But all the
more did he desire to possess that woman, so different from all women whom he
had seen or possessed in Rome or the Orient. He felt that for her he would have
given them all, and with them Rome and the world in addition.
He would have lost himself in gazing, and forgotten himself altogether, had it not
been for Chilo, who pulled the corner of his mantle, out of fear that he might do
something to expose them to danger. Meanwhile the Christians began to pray
and sing. After a while Maranatha thundered forth, and then the Great Apostle
baptized with water from the fountain those whom the presbyters presented as
ready for baptism. It seemed to Vinicius that that night would never end. He
wished now to follow Lygia as soon as possible, and seize her on the road or at
her house.
At last some began to leave the cemetery, and Chilo whispered, -- "Let us go out
before the gate, lord, we have not removed our hoods, and people look at us."
Such was the case, for during the discourse of the Apostle all had cast aside
their hoods so as to hear better, and they had not followed the general example.
Chilo's advice seemed wise, therefore. Standing before the gate, they could look
at all who passed; Ursus it was easy to recognize by his form and size.
