Volume I Part 15 (2/2)
”Give it to Phaedon,” he said, tossing the note to Thrasea, ”and say to him, 'if he make not the better haste, I shall be at Hortensia's house before him.' And then, hark ye, tell some of those knaves in the hall without, to make ready with all speed my light chariot, and yoke the two black horses Aufidus and Acheron. With all speed, mark ye! And then return, good Thrasea, for I have much to say to you, before I go.”
When he was left alone, he arose from his seat, walked three or four times to and fro his chamber, in anxious and uneasy thought; and then saying, ”Yes! yes! I will not betray him, but I will take no step in the business any farther, and I will tell him so to-night. I will tell him, moreover, that Cicero has the dagger, for now that Volero is slain, I see not well how it can be identified. The G.o.ds defend me from the dark ones whom I have invoked. I will not be untrue to Rome, nor to Julia, any more-perish the whole earth, rather! Ay! and let us, too, perish innocent, better than to live guilty!”
As he made up his mind, by a great effort, to the better course, the freedman returned, and announcing that the car would be ready forthwith, inquired what dress he should bring him.
”Never mind that! What I have on will do well enough, with a _petasus_;(15) for the sun s.h.i.+nes so brightly that it will be scarce possible to drive bare headed. But I have work for you of more importance.
You know the cave of Egeria, as men call it, in the valley of the Muses?”
”Surely, my Paullus.”
”I know, I know; but have you ever marked the ground especially around the cave-what opportunities there be for concealment, or the like?”
”Not carefully,” he answered, ”but I have noticed that there is a little gorge just beyond the grotto, broken with crags and blocks of tufo, and overgrown with much brushwood, and many junipers and ivy.”
”That will do then, I warrant me,” replied Arvina. ”Now mark what I tell you, Thrasea; for it may be, that my life shall depend on your acting as I direct. At the fourth hour of the night, I am to meet one in the grotto, on very secret business, whom I mistrust somewhat; who it is, I may not inform you; but, as I think my plans will not well suit his councils, I should not be astonished were he to have slaves, or even gladiators, with him to attack me-but not dreaming that I suspect anything, he will not take many. Now I would have you arm all my freedmen, and some half dozen of the trustiest slaves, so as to have in all a dozen or fifteen, with corslets under their tunics, and boarspears, and swords. You must be careful that you are not seen going thither, and you were best send them out by different roads, so as to meet after nightfall. Hide yourselves closely somewhere, not far from the cavern's mouth, whence you may see, unseen yourselves, whatever pa.s.ses. I will carry my light hunting horn; and if you hear its blast rush down and surround the cave, but hurt no man, nor strike a blow save in self-defence, until I bid you. Do you comprehend me?”
”I comprehend, and will obey you to the letter, Paullus,” answered the grave freedman, ”but will not you be armed?”
”I will, my Thrasea. Leave thou a leathern hunting helmet here on the table, and light scaled cuira.s.s, which I will do on under my toga. I shall be there at the fourth hour precisely; but it were well that ye should be on your posts by the second hour or soon after. For it may be, he too will lay an ambuscade, and so all may be discovered.”
”It shall be done, most n.o.ble master.”
”And see that ye take none but trustworthy men, and that ye all are silent-to would be ruin.”
”As silent as the grave, my Paullus,” answered the freedman.
”The car and horses are prepared, Paullus,” exclaimed a slave, entering hastily.
”Who goes with me to hold the reins?” asked his master.
”The boy Myron.”
”It is well. Fetch me a petasus, and lay the toga in the chariot. I may want it. Now, Thrasea, I rely on you! Remember-be prudent, sure, and silent.”
”Else may I perish ill,” replied the faithful servitor, as his master, throwing the broad brimmed hat carelessly on his curly locks, rushed out, as if glad to seek relief from his own gloomy thoughts in the excitement of rapid motion; and, scarcely pausing to observe the condition or appearance of his beautiful black coursers, sprang into the low car of bronze, shaped not much differently from an old fas.h.i.+oned arm chair with its back to the horses; seized the reins, and drove rapidly away, standing erect-for the car contained no seats-with the boy Myron clinging to the rail behind him.
A few minutes brought him through the Cyprian lane and the Suburra to the Virbian slope, by which he gained the Viminal hill, and the Hortensian villa; at the door of which, in a handsome street leading through the Quirinal gate to the Flaminian way, or great northern road of Italy, stood the carpentum, drawn by a pair of n.o.ble mules, awaiting its fair freight.
This was a two-wheeled covered vehicle, set apart mostly for the use of ladies; and, though without springs, was as comfortable and luxurious a carriage as the art of that day could produce; nor was there one in Rome, with the exception of those kept for public use in the sacred processions, that could excel that of the rich and elegant Hortensia.
The pannels were beautifully painted, and the arched top or tilt supported by gilded caryatides at the four corners. Its curtains and cus.h.i.+ons were of fine purple cloth; and altogether, though far less convenient, it was a much gayer and more sumptuous looking vehicle than the perfection of modern coach building.
The ladies were both waiting in the atrium, when the young man dismounted from his car; and never had his Julia, he thought, looked more lovely than she did this morning, with the redundant ma.s.ses of her rich hair confined by a net of green and gold, and a rich _pallium_, or shawl of the same colors, gracefully draped over her snowy stola, and indicating by the soft sweep of its outlines the beauties of a figure, which it might veil but could not conceal.
Joyously, in the frank openness of her pure nature, she sprung forward to meet him, with both her fair hands extended, and the ingenuous blood rising faintly to her pale cheeks.
”Dear, dearest Paul-I am so happy, so rejoiced to see you.”
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