Volume Ii Part 80 (2/2)
The Prefect had given Bessas--without initiating him into the secret--the duplicate of the capitulation, which the King had yet to sign. He thought that Witichis would take the doc.u.ment more unsuspiciously from an innocent hand.
Witichis greeted them as they entered; but at the sight of the Prefect there pa.s.sed a shadow across his countenance, which had before been brighter than for many months. But he forced himself to say:
”You here, Prefect of Rome? The war has ended very differently to what we expected! However, you may be satisfied. At least no Grecian Emperor, no Justinian, will rule over your Rome.”
”And shall not, as long as I live.”
”I come, King of the Goths,” interrupted Bessas, ”to lay before you the treaty with Belisarius, in order that you may sign it.”
”I have already done so.”
”It is the duplicate intended for my master.”
”Then give it me,” said Witichis, and stretched out his hand to take it.
But before he could do so, Duke Guntharis hurried into the room with the attendant.
”Witichis,” he cried, ”the royal insignia have disappeared!”
”What sayest thou?” asked Witichis. ”Hildebad alone kept the key!”
”The golden chest and other chests are gone. Within the empty niche, where they usually stood, lay this strip of parchment. The characters are those of Hildebad's secretary.”
The King took it and read:
”'Crown, helm and sword, purple and s.h.i.+eld of Theodoric are in my care.
If Belisarius will have them, he may fetch them.' The Runic character H-- for Hildebad!”
”He must be followed until he yield them up,” cried Cethegus.
At this moment Demetrius and Johannes hurried in.
”Make haste. King Witichis,” they cried. ”Do you hear the trumpets?
Belisarius has already reached the Gate of Stilicho.”
”Then let us go,” said Witichis, allowing his attendant to place the purple mantle, which they had brought instead of the missing one, upon his shoulders, and pressing a golden coronet upon his head. Instead of the sword, a sceptre was handed to him; and thus adorned, he turned to the door.
”You have not yet signed, King,” said Bessas.
”Give it to me,” and now Witichis took the parchment from the hand of the Byzantine. ”The doc.u.ment is very long,” he said, glancing over it; and then began to read.
”Haste, King,” said Johannes.
”There is no time to read it,” said Cethegus, with an indifferent voice, and took a reed-pen from the table.
”Then there is no time to sign it,” said the King. ”You know I am the '_Peasant_-King,' as the people call me. And a peasant never signs a letter before he has read to what he commits himself. Let us go,” and, smiling, he gave the doc.u.ment to the Prefect and left the room.
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