The doctrines he had before written to the
Roman church he now explains; the wish he had made to see them face
to face now expresses itself in words of love. The flood tides of
his eloquence move resistlessly on, as he interprets the new faith
and speaks of Him who is to give them eternal life. Quintus is
enriched by his frequent association with the peerless soul. Nor
did he have a prouder thing to say, in the days to come, than to
declare, "I heard great Paulus tell of the life immortal."
But how fares our knight when persecution comes? Through the years
he has been bravely declaring the Christian doctrine of the eternal
life to priests in the temples, to Roman nobles, to all most
hostile. But his wealth and social standing, as well as the
emperor's favor, now insure his safety. His father Marcus has long
since passed on, in hope of the heavenly life. Having wedded the
graceful Lucretia, when an apostle was in Rome to speak their
nuptials, he has her efficient counsel in the testing times.
"Look! look! Lucretia," he cries, one evening; "through the lower
city the flames are running like unbridled horses.
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