Volume Ii Part 57 (1/2)

And there was no one to hold Camilla's hand as she took it; for I was still in the boat upon the sea, and Cethegus was in the plantain-alley.'

Then old Corbulo called out, turning pale, 'What! did the Prefect know that the cup contained poison?' 'Certainly,' answered my mother; 'for, as I left the garden, I had told him that the deed was done.' Corbulo was dumb with horror; but Daphnidion cried out in violent grief, 'Alas!

my poor mistress! Then Cethegus murdered your child; for he stood near, close to me, and watched her drink.' 'He watched her drink?' asked my mother, in a voice which will ring in my ears for ever. 'He watched her as she drank,' repeated the freedman and his daughter. 'Oh! then may his cursed soul be delivered to the devils in h.e.l.l!' cried my mother.

'Revenge, O G.o.d! revenge hereafter! Revenge upon earth, my sons, for Camilla! A curse upon Cethegus!' And she fell back and expired.”

The Prefect preserved his composure. But he secretly grasped the dagger which was hidden in the breast-folds of his tunic.

”But you,” he asked after a pause, ”what did you do?”

”I knelt down by the corpse of my mother and kissed her cold hand. And I swore to fulfil her dying behest. Woe to you, Prefect of Rome, poisoner and murderer of my sister! You shall not live!”

”Son of Boethius, will you become a murderer for the mad words of a stupid slave and his daughter? It would be worthy of a hero and a philosopher.”

”I do not think of murder. If I were a German, I should, according to their barbaric custom--and just now I think it excellent--challenge you to mortal combat. But I am a Roman, and will lawfully seek my revenge.

Take care. Prefect, there are still just judges in Italy. For many months the enemy has prevented me from reaching the city. I only arrived here to-day by sea, and to-morrow I shall accuse you before the Senate, who will be your judges. Then we shall meet again.”

Cethegus suddenly placed himself between the youth and the door.

But Severinus cried:

”Softly! I am prudent where a murderer is concerned. Three of my friends accompanied me to your house. If I do not return immediately, they will come with the lictors to search for me.”

”I only wish,” said Cethegus, again fully composed, ”to warn you against a shameful course. If you like to prosecute the oldest friend of your family, in consequence of the feverish words of a dying woman, then do so; I cannot prevent you. But first a commission. You will become my accuser, but you still remain a soldier and my tribune. You will obey when your general commands.”

”I shall obey.”

”To-morrow Belisarius will make a sally, and the barbarians intend to attack one of the gates. I must protect the city. But I fear danger for the lion-hearted Belisarius. I must be sure that he is faithfully guarded. Therefore I order you to accompany the general to-morrow, and to defend his life with your own.”

”With mine own.”

”'Tis good, tribune, I depend upon your word.”

”Depend upon my first word too! Farewell, till we meet again, after the fight, before the Senate. With what ardour do I long for both contests!

Farewell--until we meet in the Senate!”

”We shall never meet again!” said Cethegus, as the steps of his visitor died away. ”Syphax!” he called aloud, ”bring wine and dinner. We must strengthen ourselves for to-morrow's work!”

CHAPTER X.

Early next morning Rome and the Gothic encampment were equally full of life and movement.

Mataswintha and Syphax had learned somewhat, and had imparted it to Cethegus; but they had not known all.

They had heard of the plot of the three Goths against the life of Belisarius, and of the earlier plan of a sham a.s.sault upon the Gate of St. Paul.

But they had not heard that the King, changing his plan, had determined to take advantage of the absence of the great general, in order to try if Gothic heroism were not yet able to conquer the fortifications and the genius of Belisarius.

In the council of war, no one had deceived himself as to the importance and risk of the undertaking upon which they had determined; for if, like all former ones--and Procopius had already counted sixty battles, sallies, a.s.saults and skirmishes--this last attempt failed, no further exertion could be demanded from the hara.s.sed and greatly diminished army.