Up to this time he had not noticed that Serenus was among them, but as he beheld his old opponent he had special delight.
“Ha! Serenus! thou hast found thy true belonging. I have thee in my power, and thy traitorous apostasy shall reap its full reward.”
Then, turning to his prisoners in general, he continued,—
“If any of you will blaspheme Jesus, and abjure and curse the New Faith, peradventure we may release such with the warning of a few stripes.”
No one responded.
“Forward, comrades, and escort them to prison!”
Before the sixth hour of the day, every one, including Serenus and Amabel, were surrounded by prison walls.