The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2) - The UK Mirror Service

THE MEN 13
and keeping as nearly as possible in the middle of the causeway.
The lane, which was composed of dwellings of the lowest order,
tenanted by the most abject profligates, was dark as midnight;
for the tall dingy buildings absolutely intercepted every ray of
light that proceeded from the murky sky, and there was not a
spark in any of the sordid casements, nor any votive lamp in that
foul alley. The only glimpse of casual illumination, and that too
barely serving to render the darkness and the filth perceptible,
was the faint streak of lustre where the Suburra crossed the far
extremity of the bye-path.
Scarce had they made three paces down the alley, ere the quick
eye of Cataline, for ever roving in search of aught suspicious,
caught the dim outline of a human figure, stealing across this
pallid gleam.
"Hist! hist!" he whiskered in stern low tones, which though
inaudible at three yards' distance completely filled the ears of
him to whom they were addressed—"hist! hist! Cethegus; seest [20]
thou not—seest thou not there? If it be he, he 'scapes us not
again!—out with thy weapon, man, and strike at once, if that
thou have a chance; but if not, do thou go on with Cassius to the
appointed place. Leave him to me! and say, I follow ye! See! he
hath slunk into the darkness. Separate ye, and occupy the whole
width of the street, while I dislodge him!"
And as he spoke, unsheathing his broad poignard, but holding
it concealed beneath his cassock, he strode on boldly, affecting
the most perfect indifference, and even insolence of bearing.
Meanwhile the half-seen figure had entirely disappeared amid
the gloom; yet had the wary eye of the conspirator, in the one
momentary glance he had obtained, been able to detect with
something very near to certainty the spot wherein the spy, if such
he were, lay hidden. As he approached the place—whereat a
heap of rubbish, the relics of a building not long ago as it would
seem consumed by fire, projected far into the street—seeing no
sign whatever of the man who, he was well assured, was not