V WITNESS TO THE MIRACULOUS 173 



martyrs of Christ, Marcellinus and Petrus, were buried ; and, 

 having made out the nature of their tomb, they went away 

 thinking their host would not know what they had been about. 

 But things fell out differently from what they had imagined. 

 (Cap. L 7.) 



In fact, Deacon Deusdona, who doubtless kept 

 an eye on his guests, knew all about their 

 manoeuvres and made haste to offer his services, in 

 order that, " with the help of God " (si Dens votis 

 eorum favere dignaretur) , they should all work 

 together. The deacon was evidently alarmed lest 

 they should succeed without his help. 



So, by way of preparation for the contem- 

 plated vol avec effraction they fasted three days; 

 and then, at night, without being seen, they be- 

 took themselves to the basilica of St. Tiburtius, 

 and tried to break open the altar erected over 

 his remains. But the marble proving too solid, 

 they descended to the crypt, and, " having evoked 

 our Lord Jesus Christ and adored the holy 

 martyrs," they proceeded to prise off the stone 

 which covered the tomb, and thereby exposed the 

 body of the most sacred martyr, Marcellinus, 

 " whose head rested on a marble tablet on which 

 his name was inscribed." The body was taken 

 up with the greatest veneration, wrapped in a rich 

 covering, and given over to the keeping of the 

 deacon and his brother, Lunison, while the stone 

 was replaced with such care that no sign of the 

 theft remained. 



