All the circumstances of that
miserable hour--the vacant bed-chamber--the banished daughter--the
triumph of the betrayer--the anguish of the betrayed--rushed over his
mind, and rose up before it vivid as a pictured scene before his eyes.
He struggled no more; the powers of resistance in mind and body were
crushed alike. He made an effort to remove Antonina from his side, as
if, in forgetfulness of the hidden enemy without, he designed to urge
her flight through the open door, while the madman's attention was yet
distracted from her. But, beyond this last exertion of the strong
instinct of paternal love, every other active emotion seemed dead within
him.
Vainly had he striven to disentangle the child from the fate that might
be in store for the parent. To her the dread of the dark shadow on the
pavement was superior to all other apprehensions. She now clung more
closely to her father, and tightened her clasp round his hand. So, when
the Pagan advanced into the interior of the temple, it was not Numerian
alone who followed him to the place of sacrifice, but Antonina as well.
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