“But thou hast said that Linus has gone to Ostrianum,” cried Vinicius impatiently.
“But thou has promised me a house with a vineyard at Ameriola,” answered Chilo; “for that reason I wish to seek the maiden wherever I hope to find her. They might have returned to the Trans-Tiber after the outbreak of the fire. They might have gone around outside the city, as we are doing at this moment. Linus has a house, perhaps he wished to be nearer his house to see if the fire had seized that part of the city also. If they have returned, I swear to thee, by Persephone, that we shall find them at prayer in the excavation; in the worst event, we shall get tidings of them.”
“Thou art right; lead on!” said the tribune.
Chilo, without hesitation, turned to the left toward the hill.
For a while the slope
