The priest and the soldier, calling to their companions behind to hurry
on, had now arrived opposite the temple steps, and saw confronting them
in the pale moonlight, from the eminence on which he stood, the weird
and solitary figure of Ulpius--the apparition of a Pagan in the gorgeous
robes of his priesthood, bidden back from the tombs to stay the hand of
the spoiler before the shrine of his gods.
The soldier dropped his weapon to the ground, and, trembling in every
limb, refused to proceed. But the priest, a tall, stern, emaciated man,
went on defenceless and undaunted. He signed himself solemnly with the
cross as he slowly ascended the steps; fixed his unflinching eyes on the
madman, who glared back on him in return; and called aloud in a harsh,
steady voice: 'Man or demon! in the name of Christ, whom thou deniest,
stand back!'
For an instant, as the priest approached him, the Pagan averted his eyes
and looked on the concourse of people and the armed soldiers rapidly
advancing. His fingers closed round the hilt of Goisvintha's knife,
which he had hitherto held loosely in his hand, as he exclaimed in low,
concentrated tones, 'Aha! the siege--the siege of Serapis!' The priest,
now standing on the same step with him, stretched out his arm to thrust
him back, and at that moment received the stroke of the knife.
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