"Was Johannes himself!"
"He yet lives. Thanks be to the holy ones! He can testify to it."
"And he shall: before this night! Before witnesses, before the Curies shall he verify it! To the church!"
"To Johannes!"
And the two men hastened as fast as feet could carry them, down the high-road to the town, towards the Porta Vindelica.
In the meanwhile Felicitas went slowly back to the house, often stopping to look back at her husband until he had disappeared from view.
"What may they be doing?" said she quietly, bending her beautiful head. "Well, they are good: the holy ones are with them. The sun is now set behind Vindelicia. But in the forest the sweet bird still sings his evening song: how peaceful! how quiet! I will go to the bed of my little one. I can wait there most calmly; Fulvius will come back before night. For he loves us--yes, he loves us much, my little son!"
She then entered the house.
CHAPTER V.
But Fulvius did not come back that night.