“And what would have prevented me at any time from acting the traitor, if I had been one? Have I not had access to your royal person by night as by day; and have I proved a traitor? No, emperor, none has ever been more faithful than I to you. But I have another, and a higher Lord to serve; one who will judge us both; and His laws I must obey rather than yours.”
“And why have you, like a coward, concealed your religion? To escape, perhaps, the bitter death you have deserved!”
“No, sire; no more coward than traitor. No one better than yourself knows that I am neither. So long as I could do any good to my brethren, I refused not to live amidst their carnage and my afflictions. But hope had at last died within me; and I thank Fulvius with all my heart, for having, by his accusation, spared me the embarrassment of choice between seeking death or enduring life.”
“I will decide that point for you. Death is your award; and a slow lingering one it shall be. But,” he added, in a lower tone, as if speaking to himself, “this must not get out. All must be done quietly at home, or treachery will spread. Here, Quadratus, take your Christian tribune under arrest. Do you hear, dolt? Why do you not move?”
“Because I too am a Christian!”
Another burst of fury, another storm of vile language, which ended in the stout centurion’s being ordered at once to execution. But Sebastian was to be differently dealt with.
“Order Hyphax to come hither,” roared the tyrant. In a few minutes, a tall, half-naked Numidian made his appearance. A bow of immense length, a gaily-painted quiver full of arrows, and a short broad-sword, were at once the ornaments and the weapons of the captain of the African archers. He stood erect before the emperor, like a handsome bronze statue, with bright enamelled eyes.
“Hyphax, I have a job for you to-morrow morning. It must be well done,” said the emperor.
“Perfectly, sire,” replied the dusky chief, with a grin which showed another set of enamels in his face.
“You see the captain Sebastian?” The negro bowed assent. “He turns out to be a Christian!”