Volume Ii Part 71 (1/2)
A low camp-bed, upon which lay his helmet, sword, and various doc.u.ments, a long wooden table, and a few wooden chairs and utensils, formed the simple furniture of the room.
When Procopius had taken leave, the King had thrown himself into a chair, and, supporting his weary head on his hands, leaned his elbows upon the table. Thus he had not noticed Mataswintha's light step.
She remained standing near the door, reluctant to advance. She had never before sought an interview with her husband. Her heart beat fast, and she could not muster courage to address him.
At last Witichis rose with a sigh, and, turning, saw the motionless figure at the door.
”Thou here, Queen!” he asked with surprise, as he approached her. ”What can have led thee to me?”
”Duty--compa.s.sion--” Mataswintha answered quickly; ”otherwise I had not---- I have a favour to ask of thee.”
”It is the first,” said Witichis.
”It does not concern me,” she added hastily. ”I beg for food for some poor people, who----”
The King silently stretched out his right hand.
It was the first time he had ever offered it. She did not dare to clasp it, and yet how gladly she would have done so.
Then the King took her hand himself, and pressed it gently.
”I thank thee, Mataswintha, and regret my injustice. I never believed that thou hadst a heart for thy people. I have thought unkindly of thee.”
”If thy thoughts had been more just from the beginning, perhaps many things might be better now.”
”Scarcely! Misfortune dogs my heels. Just now--thou hast a right to know it--my last hopes have been destroyed. The Franks, upon whose aid I depended, have betrayed us. Relief is impossible; the superiority of the enemy has become too great, by reason of the rebellion of the Italians. Only one thing remains to me--death!”
”Let me share it with thee,” cried Mataswintha, her eyes sparkling.
”Thou? No. The granddaughter of Theodoric will be honourably received at the Court of Byzantium. It is known that she became my wife against her will. Thou canst appeal to that fact.”
”Never!” exclaimed Mataswintha with enthusiasm.
Witichis, without noticing her, went on:
”But the others! The thousands, the tens of thousands of women and children! Belisarius will keep his word. There is only one hope for them, one single hope! For--all the powers of nature are in league against me. The Padus has suddenly become so shallow, that two hundred s.h.i.+ps with grain, which I had expected, could not be brought down the river, and fell into the hands of the enemy. I have now written for a.s.sistance to the King of the Ostrogoths; I have asked him to send a fleet; for ours is lost. If the s.h.i.+ps can force their way into the harbour, then all who cannot fight may take refuge in them. And, if thou wilt, thou canst fly to Spain.”
”I will die with thee--with the others!”
”In a few weeks the Ostrogothic sails may appear off the city. Until then my magazines will not be exhausted. That is my only comfort. But that reminds me of thy wish. Here is the key to the great door of the granaries. I carry it with me day and night. Keep it carefully--it guards my last hope. Upon its safety depend the lives of many thousands. These granaries are the only thing that has not failed. I wonder,” he added sadly, ”that the earth has not opened, or fire fallen from Heaven, to destroy this my work!”
He took the heavy key from the bosom of his doublet.
”Guard it well, it is my last treasure, Mataswintha.”
”I thank thee, Witichis--King Witichis,” said she, and would have taken the key, but her hand trembled so much that it fell to the ground.
”What is the matter?” asked the King as he picked up the key and put it into her hand. ”Thou tremblest? Art thou sick!” he added anxiously.
”No--it is nothing. But do not look at me so--do not look at me as thou didst this morning----”