Volume I Part 21 (1/2)

Was it a dream that she saw, or was it really her daughter who stood on the deck of the Gothic s.h.i.+p, which proudly rustled past, lying on the young King's breast? And did really joyous voices cry, ”Hail, Camilla, our Queen?” She stared at the pa.s.sing vision, speechless and confounded.

But the swiftly-flying s.h.i.+p had already pa.s.sed her boat and drew near the land. It anch.o.r.ed outside the shallow garden-bay; a boat was lowered, the rescued couple, Aligern, and three sailors sprang into it, and soon they climbed the steps of the quay, where, besides Cethegus and his companions, a crowd of people had collected, who, from the palace or the gardens, had with horror become aware of the danger of the little boat, and now hurried to greet the rescued King.

Accompanied by felicitations and blessings, Athalaric mounted the steps.

”Behold!” he said, on arriving at the temple, ”behold, Goths and Romans! behold your Queen, my bride! The G.o.d of Death has united us. Is it not so, Camilla?”

She looked up at him, but was terribly startled. The excitement and the sudden change from horror to joy had fearfully shaken the scarcely-recovered King. His countenance was pale as marble; he tottered and convulsively pressed his hand to his breast, as though suffocating.

”For G.o.d's sake!” cried Camilla, fearing an attack of his old malady.

”The King is unwell! Quick with the wine, the medicine!”

She flew to the table, caught up the silver cup which stood ready, and pressed it into the King's hand.

Cethegus stood close by, and followed Athalaric's every movement with eagerness. The latter had already lifted the cup to his lips, but suddenly removed it, and said, smiling, to Camilla:

”Thou must drink to me, as becomes a Gothic Queen at her court.”

And he gave her the goblet. She took it out of his hand.

For a moment the Prefect felt as if on fire.

He was upon the point of darting forward to dash the cup from her hand.

But he controlled himself. If he did so, he was irrevocably lost. Not only tomorrow, as guilty of high treason, but at once arrested and accused of poisoning. And with him would be lost the future of Rome and all his ideal world. And for whom? For a love-sick girl, who had faithlessly revolted to his deadly enemy.

”No,” he said coldly to himself, clenching his fist; ”she or Rome--therefore she!”

And he quietly looked on while the girl, sweetly blus.h.i.+ng, sipped somewhat of the wine, which the King then drank to the last dregs.

Athalaric shuddered as he replaced the cup upon the marble table.

”Come up to the palace,” he said, s.h.i.+vering, and threw his mantle across his shoulders; ”I feel cold.”

And he turned away. In doing so he caught sight of Cethegus, stood still for a moment, and looked penetratingly into the Prefect's eyes.

”You here?” he said gloomily, and advanced a step towards him. All at once he shuddered again, and, with a sudden cry, fell p.r.o.ne near the spring.

”Athalaric!” cried Camilla, and threw herself upon him. The old servant Corbulo sprang to her from the group of domestics.

”Help!” he cried; ”she is dying--the King!”

”Water, quick! water!” called Cethegus, and he resolutely went to the table, took the silver cup, stooped, rinsed it quickly but thoroughly in the spring, and then bent over the King, who lay in Ca.s.siodorus'

arms, while Corbulo laid Camilla's head upon his knee.

Helpless and horrified, the courtiers surrounded the two apparently lifeless forms.

”What has happened? My child!” With this cry Rusticiana, who had just landed, rushed to her daughter's side. ”Camilla!” she screamed desperately, ”what ails you?”