"Let us wait here; some one may appear," replied Vinicius. "We should
not be seen in the yard."

At this moment, he thought Chilo's counsel practical. If there were
some tens of slaves present, it would be easy to occupy the gate, which
seemed the only exit, search all the lodgings simultaneously, and thus
come to Lygia's; otherwise Christians, who surely were not lacking in
that house, might give notice that people were seeking her. In view of
this, there was risk in inquiring of strangers. Vinicius stopped to
think whether it would not be better to go for his slaves. Just then,
from behind a screen hiding a remoter lodging, came a man with a sieve
in his hand, and approached the fountain.

At the first glance the young tribune recognized Ursus.

"That is the Lygian!" whispered Vinicius.

"Am I to break his bones now?"

"Wait awhile!"

Ursus did not notice the two men, as they were in the shadow of the
entrance, and he began quietly to sink in water vegetables which filled
the sieve. It was evident that, after a whole night spent in the
cemetery, he intended to prepare a meal. After a while the washing was
finished; he took the wet sieve and disappeared behind the screen.
Croton and Vinicius followed him, thinking that they would come directly
to Lygia's lodgings. Their astonishment was great when they saw that
the screen divided from the court, not lodgings, but another dark
corridor, at the end of which was a little garden containing a few