"And above the House of Cæsar?"
"Aye! above the House of Cæsar too."
"And they crucified him?"
"Aye! like a common thief. 'Twas right and just since he rebelled against Cæsar."
"And yet, Licinia, there are those in Rome who do him service even now."
"The gods forbid!" exclaimed Licinia in horror. "And how could that be?" she added with a shrug of the shoulders, "seeing that he died such a shameful death."
"I marvel on that also," said the young girl, whose wide-open blue eyes once more assumed their strangely puzzled expression.
"Nay! I'll not believe it," rejoined the old woman hotly. "Do that man service? A common traitor who died upon the cross. Who did stuff thine ears, my goddess, with such foolish tales?"
"No one told me foolish tales, Licinia. But this I do know, that there are some in Rome who set that Galilean above the majesty of Cæsar, and in his name do defy Cæsar's might."
"They are madmen then," said the slave curtly.