Meanwhile a third person was now approaching to join the two occupants
of the bedchamber abandoned by its ill-fated mistress. Although in the
subterranean retreat to which he had retired on leaving Vetranio, Ulpius
had not noticed the silent entrance of the master of the house, he had
heard through the open doors the sound, low though it was, of the
Christian's voice. As he rose, suspecting all things and prepared for
every emergency, to ascend to the bedchamber, he saw, while he mounted
the lowest range of stairs, a figure in white pass rapidly through the
hall and disappear by the principal entrance of the house. He hesitated
for an instant and looked after it, but the fugitive figure had passed
so swiftly in the uncertain light of early morning that he was unable to
identify it, and he determined to ascertain the progress of events, now
that Numerian must have discovered a portion at least of the plot
against his daughter and himself, by ascending immediately to Antonina's
apartment, whatever might be the consequences of his intrusion at such
an hour on her father's wrath.
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