"Selene!" cried Arsinoe, falling from all her clouds of happiness, startled and grieved—"do you know where she is?"
Before Doris could reply, Keraunus stormed out:
"It is all the fault of the Roman architect and his raging beast of a dog. Very good! very good! now Caesar will certainly help me to my rights. He will give a lesson to those who throw Roxana's sister into a sick-bed, and hinder her from taking any part in the processions. Very good! very good indeed!"
"It is sad enough to cry over!" said the gatekeeper's wife, indignantly. "Is this the thanks she gets for all her care of her little brothers and sisters! Only to think that a father can speak so, when his best child is lying with a broken leg, helpless among strangers!"
"With a broken leg," whimpered Arsinoe.
"Broken!" repeated Keraunus slowly, and now sincerely anxious. "Where can
I find her?"
"At dame Hannah's little house at the bottom of the garden belonging to the widow of Pudeus."
"Why did they not bring her here?"
"Because the physician forbade it. She is in a fever, but she is well cared for. Hannah is one of the Christians. I cannot bear the people, but they know how to nurse the sick better than any one."
"With Christians! my child is with Christians!" shrieked Keraunus, beside himself. "At once Arsinoe, at once come with me; Selene shall not stay a moment longer among that accursed rabble. Eternal gods! besides all our other troubles this disgrace too!"