Then slowly he was lowered into the pitch blackness below. Down—down—down he descended, till he plashed into the mire.
The jailer holding the lamp, looked down and called to him to release the rope. The deacon obeyed. There he stood, looking up, watching the dancing pole as it mounted, then saw the spark of the lamp withdrawn; heard the retreating steps of the jailer, then a clash like thunder. The door of the robur was shut. He was alone at the bottom of this fetid abyss.
Then he said, and tears coursed down his cheeks as he said it: “Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit—in the place of darkness and in the grave.”
CHAPTER XV
“REVEALED UNTO BABES”
On account of the death in the family of the timber merchant, Æmilius left the house and took a room and engaged attendance in the cottage of a cordwainer a little way off. The house was clean, and the good woman was able to cook him a meal not drowned in oil nor rank with garlic.
He was uneasy because Callipodius did not return, and he obtained no tidings concerning Perpetua. The image of this maiden, with a face of transparent purity, out of which shone the radiance of a beautiful soul, haunted his imagination and fluttered his heart. He walked by the side of the flooded tract of land, noticed that the water was falling, and looked, at every turn he took, in the direction of Nemausus, expecting the arrival of his client, but always in vain.
He did at length see a boat approach, towards evening, and he paced the little landing-place with quick strides till it ran up against it; and then only, [pg 166]to his disappointment, did he see that Callipodius was not there. Castor disembarked.
On the strength of his slight acquaintance Æmilius greeted the bishop. The suspense was become unendurable. He asked to be granted a few words in private. To this Castor gladly consented.