Volume Iii Part 37 (1/2)
But she blushed up to the roots of her hair.
”You knew that good friends of yours were concerned in the conspiracy; you wished first to warn them before the plot was betrayed.”
”Yes,” she stammered. ”Photius, the freedman----”
”And yet another,” whispered Cethegus, ”who, scarcely freed from Theodora's gilded prison, would only exchange it for the vaults of the Bosphorus.”
Antonina covered her face with her hands.
”I know all, Antonina--the slight fault of former days, the good resolutions of a later time. But in this case your old inclination has ensnared you. Instead of thinking only of Belisarius, you thought also of his welfare. And if Belisarius now falls, whose is the guilt?”
”Oh! be silent! have pity!” cried Antonina.
”Do not despair,” continued Cethegus. ”You have still a strong prop, one who will be your advocate with the Emperor. Even if banishment be threatened, the prayers of your friend Theodora will prevent the worst.”
”The Empress!” cried Antonina, in terror. ”Oh, how she will misrepresent! She has sworn our undoing!”
”That is bad,” said Cethegus--”very bad! For the Empress also knows of the conspiracy, and of the invitations to Belisarius. And you know that a much less crime than that of being invited to join a conspiracy is sufficient----”
”The Empress knows of it! Then we are lost! Oh! you who know how to find a means of escape when no other eye can see it--help I save us!”
And Antonina sank at the Prefect's feet.
A lamentable howl issued from the corner of the room. The leopard trembled with renewed fear. The Prefect cast a rapid glance at his beaten adversary, and then gently raised the kneeling woman.
”Do not despair, Antonina. Yes; there is a way to save Belisarius--but only one.”
”Must he tell _now_ what has happened? As soon as he returns?”
”For that it is too late; and it would be too little. He would not be believed; mere words would not prove that he was in earnest. No; he must prove his fidelity by deeds. He must seize all the conspirators together, and deliver them into the Emperor's power.”
”How can he seize them all together?”
”They themselves have invited him. To-night they a.s.semble in the house of Photius, his freedman. He must consent to put himself at their head.
He must go to the meeting, and take them all prisoners. Anicius,” he added, ”has been warned already by the Empress. I have seen him.”
”Alas! But if he must die, it is to save Belisarius. My husband must do as you say; I see that it is the only way. And it is a bold and dangerous step; it will allure him.”
”Do you think he will sacrifice his freedman?”
”We have warned the fool again and again. What matters Photius when Belisarius is in danger! If ever I have had any power over my husband, I shall prevail to-day. Procopius has often advised him to give such a brutal--as he called it--proof of his fidelity. I will remind him of it. You may be sure that he will follow our united counsel.”
”'Tis well. He must be there before midnight. When the watchman on the walls calls the hour, I shall break into the hall. And it is better, so that Belisarius may be quite safe, that he only enter the meeting when he sees my Moor Syphax in the niche before the house behind the statue of Petrus. He may also place a few of his guards in front of the house.
In case of need, they can protect him, and bear witness in his favour.
He is not capable of much feigning; he must only join the meeting shortly before midnight; thus he will have no need to speak. Our guards will wait in the Grove of Constantinus, at the back of Photius's house.
At midnight--the trumpet sounds when the guard is relieved, and you know that it can be distinctly heard--we shall break in. Belisarius, therefore, need not undertake the dangerous task of giving a signal.”