'
'My destiny is with her,' interrupted Vetranio, looking round
superstitiously to the frail form on the couch. 'I know nothing of the
mysteries that the Christians call their "Faith", but I believe now in
the soul; I believe that one soul contains the fate of another, and that
her soul contains the fate of mine!'
The physician shook his head derisively. His calling had determined his
philosophy--he was as ardent a materialist as Epicurus himself.
'Listen,' said Vetranio; 'since I first saw her, a change came over my
whole being; it was as if her life was mingled with mine! I had no
influence over her, save an influence for ill: I loved her, and she was
driven defenceless from her home! I sent my slaves to search Rome night
and day; I exerted all my power, I lavished my wealth to discover her;
and, for the first time in this one effort, I failed in what I had
undertaken. I felt that through me she was lost--dead! Days passed on;
life weighed weary on me; the famine came. You know in what way I
determined that my career should close; the rumour of the Banquet of
Famine reached you as it reached others!'
'It did,' replied the physician.
Pages:
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816