"Now, what is this you know about these Christians?"
"Something of much importance to your Excellency, and I hope to learn something still more important."
"You shall be well paid if you do," said the Prefect. "It is difficult to convict them of any crime."
"I have secret sources of information, your Excellency. In fact, I hope to bring you the names of the ringleaders of the accursed sect."
"How so? Are you not the secretary of Flaccus Sertorius?"
"I am, your Excellency, but he has no heart in the work of this new edict. I would like to see more zeal in the Emperor's service."
"I like not this Sertorius," said the Prefect, half musing. "He affects too much what they call the severe old Roman virtues to suit these times. But how do you expect to learn the secrets of these Christians?"
"By becoming one myself, your Excellency, replied the Greek, with a sinister expression in his eyes."
"By becoming one yourself!" exclaimed the Prefect, in a tone of anger and surprise. Then noting the wily expression of the supple Greek, he added, "Oh! I see, by becoming a spy upon their practices and a betrayer of their secrets. Is that it?"
"We Greeks like not the words traitor and spy," said the youth, with a faint blush, "but to serve the Emperor and your Excellency we would bear even that opprobrium."