Part 38 (2/2)
”My slaves would know,” she said coldly, ”and would betray thee.”
”I only fear the men and they need not know,” he said eagerly, even though at her words he had paused and turned back towards her.
”Many of them have seen and heard thee.”
”Tell them I have escaped to the Palace of Augustus, through the crypta.”
”They would not believe it--they would know it was not true.”
”Canst thou not trust thy slaves?” he snarled.
”Couldst thou trust thine?” she retorted.
”I can change robes with one of my guard,” he urged, ”and he could then pretend to be the Caesar escaping through the crypta to the House of Augustus.”
”'Twere safest not to make pretence,” she rejoined coolly; ”rather let the Caesar do what he suggests.”
”What is that?”
”The Palace of Augustus would be the safest stronghold for the Caesar until the arrival of the legions. It would be safer than the house of his servant, for prying eyes may have seen him enter it, and ears--sharpened by hate--may have heard his cries.”
”Then am I lost!” he exclaimed.
”Not if my gracious lord will take counsel of his servant. The underground way is clear and safe. The Palace of Augustus would afford ample shelter. Twenty men well armed will watch over the Caesar and the house of Dea Flavia will furnish the necessary food.”
Caligula hesitated a moment, his s.h.i.+fty eyes wandered restlessly over the face of the young girl.
”Thou'lt not betray me?” he murmured.
”I could betray thee now an I would,” she said simply. ”The mob is at my gate. One call from me and the Caesar is in the hands of those who desire his death.”
”Hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+” he said, once more clutching her wrist and gazing fearfully around him, ”speak not of this, Dea! The very words might call down the decree of the G.o.ds.... I'll trust thee,” he added, bringing his livid face close to her own and speaking with a fever of maddened fury, ”but if thou shouldst fail me....”
”No need of threats, great Caesar,” she said, calmly disengaging her wrist from his grasp and stepping back from him, ”if I failed thee to-day neither I nor thou would be alive on the morrow.”
The truth of what she said must have struck his dulled mind, for the look of savage ferocity quickly died from his face, leaving it once more pale with abject fear. He must have realised that his own unreasoning cowardice had placed him entirely in this girl's hands, and that having feared to meet his people a few hours ago, he had cut off from beneath his own feet the bulwark of dignity and of unapproachable sanct.i.ty on which he should have stood.
”I'll to the House of Augustus,” he said more quietly, ”while the rabble vent their rage upon my palace and search for their Caesar that they might murder him, I'll remain there in peace. Do thou send thy most trusted slave into the streets, and let him endeavour to reach the praetorian guard who are holding their ground behind the crowd of rebels. They might effect a flank movement, which, if unexpected, might put the miscreants to rout sooner than we antic.i.p.ate. Hast a slave whom thou canst trust thus far?”
”I have two freedmen,” she replied, ”free since yesternight, who would give their life for me.”
”Let them do it then,” he retorted cynically. ”And do thou lead the way to the triclinium. I am anhungered, and a halt at thy table will throw dust in the eyes of thy slaves. I can reach the crypta from there without being seen again.”
”As the Caesar commands,” she said calmly, ”but there is little time to be lost.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
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