To such a man, renowned for his life of luxury, a girl so beautiful as
Antonina would be a bribe rich enough to enable him to extort any
promise required as a reward for betraying her while under the
protection of her father's house. In addition to this advantage to be
drawn from her ruin, was the certainty that her loss would so affect
Numerian as to render him, for a time at least, incapable of pursuing
his labours in the cause of Christianity. Fixed then in his detestable
purpose, the ruthless priest patiently awaited the opportunity of
commencing his machinations. Nor did he watch in vain. The victim
innocently fell into the very trap that he had prepared for her when she
first listened to the music of Vetranio's lute, and permitted her
treacherous guardian to become the friend who concealed her disobedience
from her father's ear. After that first fatal step every day brought
the projects of Ulpius nearer to success. The long-sought interview
with the senator was at length obtained; the engagement imperatively
demanded on the one side was, as we have already related, carelessly
accepted on the other; the day that was to bring success to the schemes
of the betrayer, and degradation to the honour of the betrayed, was
appointed; and once more the cold heart of the fanatic warmed to the
touch of joy.
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