Volume Ii Part 56 (2/2)
”Dear, extravagant youth!” said Cethegus. ”What have you done?”
”That which is right and beautiful,” answered Kallistratos simply.
”But reflect; the Mausoleum is now a fortress. If the Goths storm----”
”The Letoides stand upon the second and inner wall; and how can I fear that the barbarians will ever again conquer the favourite place of Cethegus? Where can the beauteous G.o.ds be more secure than in your citadel? Your fortress is their best, because safest, temple. My offering shall be at the same time a happy omen.”
”It shall!” cried Cethegus with animation. ”And I myself believe that your gift is well protected. But allow me, in return----”
”In return you have allowed me to fight for you. Chaire!” laughed the Greek, and was gone.
”The boy loves me dearly,” said Cethegus. ”And I am like other human fools--it does me good; and that not merely because I can thereby rule him.”
Heavy footsteps were now heard upon the marble of the vestibule, and a tribune of the army entered.
It was a young Roman with n.o.ble features, but of a graver expression than his years warranted. His cheek-bones made a right angle with his straight and severe brow, in true Roman outline; in the deep-sunk eyes lay Roman strength and--at this moment--resolute earnestness, and a self-will regardless of all but itself.
”Aha! Severinus, son of Boethius! Welcome, my young hero and philosopher! I have not seen you for many months. Whence come you?”
”From the grave of my mother!” answered Severinus, with a fixed look at the questioner.
Cethegus sprang from his seat.
”What! Rusticiana? The friend of my youth? The wife of my Boethius?”
”She is dead,” said the son shortly.
The Prefect would have taken his hand, but Severinus withdrew it.
”My son! my poor Severinus! And did she die--without a word for me?”
”I bring you her last words--they concern you!”
”How did she die? Of what illness?”
”Of grief and remorse.”
”Grief!” sighed Cethegus; ”that I understand. But why should she feel remorse? And her last word was for me? Tell me, what did she say?”
Severinus approached the Prefect so closely that he touched his knee, and looking piercingly into his eyes, he answered:
”She said, 'A curse, a curse upon Cethegus, who poisoned my child!”
Cethegus looked at him quietly.
”Did she die delirious?” he coldly asked.
”No, murderer! Her delirium was to trust in you! In the hour of her death she confessed to Ca.s.siodorus and to me that it was her hand which administered the poison--with which you had furnished her--to the young tyrant. She told us all the circ.u.mstances. She was supported as she spoke by old Corbulo and his daughter, Daphnidion. 'Too late I learned,' she concluded, 'that my child had drunk of the deadly cup.
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