Part 12 (1/2)
And the lad, as you declare, may be willing to cut loose from a bad course. If he really cares for Cornelia, he will be moderate in his demands for the dowry. Your suggestion is worth taking, Claudia. Let us send for him, and let him know the only terms on which he can have my niece.”
[78] A distinguished poet and orator--a friend of Catullus.
Lentulus clapped his hands, and a serving-boy came in for orders.
”Go to the villa of Quintus Drusus,” commanded the master, ”and tell him that I would see him at once on business of weight.”
Claudia arose, and let her maids throw over her a long white _stola_,[79] with deep flounces and an elaborate embroidery of sea-nymphs and marine monsters. Lentulus went out into the atrium and walked up and down, biting his nails, and trying to think out the arguments by which he would confute the political heresies of Drusus.
Lentulus was too good a politician not to know that the young man would be a valuable catch for the party that secured him; and the consul-elect was determined, not so much to spare breaking the heart of his niece, but to rob the enemy of a valuable adherent. Cornelia had gone back to her book; but when she saw the boy go down the path, evidently on an errand to the villa of the Drusi, she rolled up the volume, and went into the atrium.
[79] A long tunic worn by Roman ladies.
”You have sent after Quintus, uncle?” she asked.
”I have,” was the reply; ”I expect him shortly.”
”What is the matter?” continued Cornelia, growing apprehensive.
”I wish to make the arrangements for your wedding,” replied Lentulus, continuing his pacing to and fro.
”Oh, I am so glad!” cried Cornelia, cheerily. ”I am so pleased you wish to make everything agreeable for Quintus and for me!”
”I hope so,” was the rather gloomy response.
Presently Drusus was seen coming up the shaded path at a very brisk stride. He had been playing at fencing with old Mamercus, and his face was all aglow with a healthy colour; there was a bright light in his eye. When he saw Cornelia in the doorway he gave a laugh and broke into a run, which brought him up to her panting and merry.
Then as he saw Lentulus he paused, half ashamed of his display of boyish ardour, and yet, with a smile and a gracious salutation, asked the older man if he was enjoying good health, and congratulated him on his election.
The consul-designate was a little disarmed by this straightforward mode of procedure. He dropped unuttered the elaborate exordium he had been preparing on the tendency of young men to be led astray by speciously pleading schemers, and found himself replying mildly to questions about himself and various old friends of his, whom Drusus had known as a boy before he went to Athens. But finally the young man interrupted this pacific discourse with the query:--
”And, most n.o.ble Lentulus, what is the business on which you sent for me? So far as I am able, the uncle of Cornelia has but to command.”
Lentulus glanced at Claudia, as if expecting her to open a delicate subject; but that excellent lady only fingered her _palla_,[80] and gave vent to a slight cough. Cornelia, whose fears had all pa.s.sed away, stood beside Drusus, with one arm resting on his shoulder, glancing pertly from one man to the other. Lentulus began:--
[80] A shawl worn over the stola.
”I am very sorry to tell you, Quintus, that I fear your wedding with Cornelia cannot be celebrated as soon as you hoped.”
”Must be postponed!” exclaimed the young man, in alarm; and Cornelia dropped her arm, and stared at her uncle in dismay.
”I fear so,” said Lentulus, dryly. ”I have done my best to husband the fortune Caius left his daughter; but, as perhaps you know, I invested a very large part of it in the tax farming syndicate for farther Spain. The speculation seemed safe, but local wars have so reduced the profits that they amount to nothing, and it will be some time before the princ.i.p.al is set free. Of course, in ordinary times I would make up the sum from my own means, but I have had very heavy expenses lately; consequently, I fear you cannot marry Cornelia until I am in a position to pay over her dowry.”
Drusus burst out into a hearty, boyish laugh.
”My dear uncle,” cried he, ”for do let me call you so, I would have you know that when I take Cornelia I have dowry sufficient. Thanks to old Vibula.n.u.s's will, I may call myself pa.s.sing wealthy. As far as I am concerned, you may pay over the marriage portion to my heirs, if so you wish.”
Lentulus seemed considerably relieved. Claudia broke out with loud e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns to the effect that Drusus, she always knew, was a generous, affectionate fellow, and she loved him dearly. Cornelia, however, looked disturbed, and presently exclaimed:--
”It isn't right, Quintus, that I should come into your house with not a sesterce in my own name, as if you had married some low farmer's daughter.”
”_Phy!_ pis.h.!.+” replied Drusus. ”You always scold the Greeks, my good mistress, and yet, like them, you hold that a marriage between people of unequal means is unhappy. A penny for your scruples! I have more money to-day than I know what to do with. Besides, if it will make you happier, your uncle can doubtless pay over the dowry before a great while.”
”It's certainly very kind of you, Quintus,” said Lentulus (who had quite made up his mind that if the young man could wait for what was a very tidy fortune, through sheer affection for Cornelia, he would be pliable enough in the political matter), ”not to press me in this affair. Rest a.s.sured, neither you nor my niece will be the losers in the end. But there's one other thing I would like to ask you about.