"Cæsar, we did it unwittingly! Take our house, our land, all that we
have, but have pity on our son!"
The philosophers wished to enter the temple, but the Emperor waved
them back--
"I came to the festival alone. I alone will offer the sacrifice!"
"Let us go in," he added, addressing Gorgius.
"Close the doors, and let none of the unconsecrated enter...."
And the doors were shut in the faces of his philosopher friends.
"'Unconsecrated?' How do you like that?" asked Garguillus moodily.
Libanius stood sulking in silence.
Mauricus, with a mysterious air, dragged his friends into a corner of
the portico, and touching his forehead with a finger murmured--
"Do you understand?"
All were dumbfounded.
"Is it possible?"