Riots were not unknown in Rome, but riots
which were against Christians were very serious matters.
If glances full of meaning were exchanged between Alyrus and the
bearers, neither Martius nor Alexis noticed them.
The crowd in front of Octavia's gate was now very menacing. The men
were throwing stones over the wall and crying: "Down with the
Christians!"
"Way! Way for the daughter of Aurelius Lucanus, worshipper of the
gods" cried Alyrus, and the crowd parted to let them through.
VII.
ENTER, LYCIAS, THE GLADIATOR.
Lidia, the scullery maid, stole out of the back door of her master's
house. Bare-foot she was and her black hair streamed out behind her as
she ran swiftly through the streets of Rome. Few noticed her, for the
people were still excited from the doings of the night before. Groups
stood at the places where roads crossed, or in the shadows of the
columns and discussed what had occurred. When such important matters
as the arrest of a few hundreds of Christians were concerned, the
little maid with frightened eyes and ragged clothes was not of any
moment.
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