Volume I Part 60 (2/2)
Cethegus looked searchingly through the groups; he seemed to miss some one.
Lucius Licinius guessed his thoughts.
”You seek the dark Corsican, Furius Ahalla? You must not reckon upon him. I sounded him thoroughly, but he said: 'I am a Corsican--no Roman.
My trade flourishes under Gothic protection. Leave me out your game.'
And when I pressed him further--for I would gladly win his brave sword and the many thousands of hands which he commands--he said abruptly: 'I will not fight against Totila.'”
”The G.o.ds alone know what binds the wild tiger to that milksop,” said Piso.
Cethegus smiled, but frowned as well.
”I think we Romans will suffice,” he said in a loud voice; and the youths looked at him with beating hearts.
”Open the a.s.sembly,” said Scaevola impatiently to Silverius. ”You see how he talks over the young people; he will win them all. Interrupt him; speak!”
”Immediately. Are you sure that Albinus will come?”
”He will; he waits for the messengers at the Appian gate.”
”Well,” said the priest, ”G.o.d be with us!”
And he stepped into the middle of the rotunda, raised the black cross which he held, and began:
”In the name of the Triune G.o.d! We have again a.s.sembled in the gloom of night for the works of light. Perhaps for the last time; for the Son of G.o.d, to whom the heretics refuse all honour, has wonderfully blessed our endeavours. Next to G.o.d, our warmest thanks are due to the n.o.ble Emperor Justinian and his pious spouse, who listen to the sighs of the suffering Church with active sympathy; and, lastly, to our friend and leader here, the Prefect, who zealously works for the cause of our master the Emperor----”
”Stop, priest!” cried Lucius Licinius. ”Who calls the Emperor of Byzantium our _master_? We will not have the Greeks instead of the Goths! We will be free!”
”We will be free!” echoed the chorus of his friends.
”We shall _become_ free!” continued Silverius. ”Certainly! But that is not possible unaided. The Emperor must help us. And do not think, beloved youths, that the man whom you honour as your leader, Cethegus, is of a different opinion. Justinian has sent him a costly ring--his portrait in carneol--as a sign that he is contented with the Prefect's services, and the Prefect has accepted the ring. Behold, he wears it on his finger.”
Startled and indignant, the youths looked at Cethegus, who silently advanced into the middle of the room.
A painful pause ensued.
”Speak, General!” cried Lucius; ”contradict him! It is not as he says with the ring!”
But Cethegus nodded and drew off the ring.
”It is as he says. The ring is from the Emperor, and I have accepted it.”
Lucius Licinius fell back a step.
”As a sign?” asked Silverius.
”As a sign,” cried Cethegus, in a threatening voice, ”that I am not the ambitious egoist for which many take me. As a sign that I love Italy more than my ambition. Yes, I built upon Byzantium, and would have given up the leaders.h.i.+p to the mighty Emperor; therefore I took this ring. I build no more upon Byzantium, for she hesitates everlastingly: therefore I have brought the ring with me to-day, in order to return it to the Emperor. You, Silverius, have proved yourself the representative of Byzantium; here, return his pledge to your master; he delays too long. Tell him Italy will help herself!”
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