"Hast thou seen," inquired he, "how Christians die? Dost wish to die in that way?"
The old man raised his pale face; for a time his lips moved in silence, and he answered,—
"I too believe in Christ."
Tigellinus looked at him with amazement. "Dog, thou hast gone mad in fact!"
And suddenly the rage in his breast broke its bounds. Springing at Chilo, he caught him by the beard with both hands, hurled him to the floor, trampled him, repeating, with foam on his lips,—
"Thou wilt retract! thou wilt!"