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OTHO'S SUPPER AND WHAT CAME OF IT 153
numbers of his companions, came up to the trembling slavegirl,
who little dreamed whose was the hand laid upon her
robe.
'
'
Oh,' he said, when slave-girls are so modest there is
nothing so effective for their education as the sayatio. What
say you, comrades ? It will be a novel excitement to toss a
girl.'
'
'
Brutes ! said Pudens, ' whoever you are brutes and not
Komans ! Would you insult and injure a modest maiden, slave
though she be ? Stand back at your peril.'
But Nero, excited with wine, and closely followed by Pollio
and Sagitta, was still
endeavouring to drag away Junia, who
clung convulsively to her i'ather, when a blow from the strong
hand of Pudens sent him staggering to the wall. He stumbled
over a stone in the street, the mask slipped down from his face,
and Pudens saw who it was. The sense of the peril in which
he and his slaves were involved, at once flashed upon his mind.
There was at least a chance that Nero had not recognised him
in the darkness. He hastily whispered to Onesimus to put
out his lantern and, if possible, those of their assailants also.
The Phrygian rose to the occasion. Springing upon Petronius,
he dashed the lantern out of his grasp by the suddenness of
his assault, and, whirling his staff into the air, struck with all
his force at the hand of Paris, who held the other lantern. The
lights were extinguished by the fall of the lanterns, and covering
his own under his tunic he called on Pudens and Nereus
to follow him closely, and seized Junia by the hand. The
by-ways of the streets had become familiar to him, and
while the revellers were discomfited, and were absorbed in
paying attention to Nero, whose face was bleeding, they all
four made their escape, and got home by a more circuitous
route.
'
The bucket-men are coming, Emperor,' said Paris.
None of the party wanted the police to recognise them, or
to have the trouble of an explanation which was sure to get
talked of to their general discredit, and feeling a little crestfallen,
they all hurried off. to a secret entrance of the Palatine.
This was a rough beginning for Nero in his career of a practical
joker. But the delights of such adventures were too
keen to be foregone. He had not recognised Pudens, who
took care not to look too closely at the bruise on Nero's cheek