CHAPTER XII.
Things were changed in the small household of Masthlion. The same dailyroutine proceeded, but it was carried on under the depressing shadow of acloud which darkened the brow of the potter. He was no more than human,and transient shadows had been there before; but, in the memory of the twofemales who shared his home, never such an unwelcome symptom of abidingcare as that which now haunted their eyes.
He was their self-imposed autocrat, and it was natural that the gloom ofhis mind should be reflected on their own, just as the landscape takes itshue from the skies. Their sleepless solicitude, rooted in tender love,outweighed even the fear-quickened service of the trembling slaves ofCaesar; and never was man less exacting in his demands upon such aboundless store of devotion to his needs, or yet more innocent of directeffort or intention to deserve it. It was the simple tribute to hisnature, which bore not a ripple of vanity or self-sufficiency to break theunruffled flow of his cheerful serenity.
Living in the full gratification and contentment of mutual affection, heyet never suspected the depth of reverence which lay rooted in the mindsof the two women and sanctified their love. He was incapable, by nature,of arriving at such a pitch of self-consciousness. His was the dispositionwhich would have been the touchstone of a termagant's foul humours, and astanding invitation to her persecutions. Fate had blessed him in avertingsuch misery by giving him the companionship of two gentle natures thereflex of his own. The current of existence in his own nest had,therefore, been uniformly calm and quietly happy, even through his earlystruggles. Bitter reproach, the frequent adjunct of poverty and privation,had no existence in his poor house, for Tibia, his wife, was too devotedand worshipping to harbour an adverse thought. Nor was there any ground,had she been so minded, for he had toiled like a Titan, and evermaintained his native cheerfulness. The trial of those days had longpassed, and, with a surer footing and a better competence, the child Neaerahad come to fill the void in their childless home. She needed little ofthe example and training of her supposed mother to follow in the same pathof devotion to the potter. His nature asserted its sway over her mind andheart, and they were inseparable companions from the first. Indeed shecared for no other when he was by, and even in her childish ailments wouldsuffer no other nurse than the rough-handed, toil-worn man. Often he hadbeen brought out of his workshop to the side of the child's pallet, afterhis wife had exhausted all arts and contrivances to soothe herfretfulness; and it was strange to see the sudden composure steal over heras, begrimed with clay and the furnace, he took up his place beside herand clasped her tiny hand in his. And yet, perhaps, not so much to wonderat, when one perceived the tenderness which welled in his dark, deep-seteyes, and crooned in the soft, soothing tones of his voice, as it pouredinto her eager ears some tale of wonderland. Of such superlative divinityis the gentleness of strength.
The trouble of Masthlion's mind was borne, in obedience to his nature,silently and patiently, but was none the less evident to the keen anxiouseyes of the women. Always devoted to his workshop, he now passed more timethan ever in its smoky walls, rarely appearing save for meals. He spokelittle and his look was absorbed; but, many times, Neaera caught his glanceresting upon her with a haggard expression which smote her with poignantpain.
All this upon the simplest reasoning was ascribed to the influence ofCestus--because the change was simultaneous with his appearance in theirmidst. It was hardly possible to make a mistake in the matter. Tibia, atleast, was certain. We have seen her stealing downstairs, to find herhusband sitting, steeped in grief, before the cold ashes in the brazier,after his first interview with his brother-in-law. She had subsequentlyendeavoured to obtain an explanation from him, but, though his heart achedas well as feared to tell her, he was obliged to preserve his promise toCestus, and undergo the additional pain of bearing his trouble in secret.Nor was she any more successful when she applied to Cestus himself, who,with his usual readiness, disclaimed all knowledge, and in fact lookedrather surprised. Thus she was constrained to remain with a disagreeableshadow of a mystery hanging between her and her husband--the firstexperience of the kind since their companionship; and, perforce, in such aposition as rendered her painfully helpless to give him any sympathy andhelp whatever. Neaera's concern for her father, on the other hand, wasmixed with a guilty feeling which pricked her sorely and would not beargued away. Those glances, which she caught at times fixed upon her,seemed full of reproach, and were well-nigh insupportable. To herexaggerated fancy they seemed to say, 'Look what you have done! Thus haveyou repaid my love and care by your wilfulness.' In this way she connectedhis trouble with her relation to Martialis, and no more bitter conclusioncould be arrived at, since it placed in direct antagonism the two beingsshe most loved on earth. She reflected how gradually and reluctantly thepotter had given way to her betrothal. How, at first, he had almostabsolutely refused to listen at all; his journey to Rome, and final, tardyassent--given, as she felt sure, not because he approved, but because hehad not been able to discover any tangible ground or excuse for objection.But, she further reflected, even then, at the worst, his anxiety took nosuch dark shape as at present. He never avoided her, as he appeared to donow, to her unspeakable sorrow. Then he conversed freely and withoutrestraint on the matter, and, if more anxious and earnest at times, henever entirely lost his customary cheerfulness. It was with the arrival ofher uncle from Rome the change had at once become manifest, and one day,when alone with the Suburan, she taxed him with it, and desired him toexplain the coincidence, if possible.
Now it happened that Cestus, in the course of his sojourn in the house,had yielded to a feeling of admiration for the beautiful girl, which wasreally sincere; and the feeling of respect which accompanied it was notonly derived from consideration for the future, but actually due to herqualities themselves. He had very early changed his customary, bold,impudent manner of address in her presence, and relieved it of as muchvulgarity as possible, with the effect of gradually lessening the aversionwith which she at first had regarded him. He took pains to still improvethe position, and with success. His fluency of tongue and natural abilityfor description stood him in good stead; and Neaera began to incline veryreadily to hear him talk to her about the great city and its people--asubject of which he was a profound master. One day he made her a gift,and, as he had the tact to make it unostentatious as well as seasonable,it was very well received. Thus, artfully, and by degrees, her earlyrepugnance to the Roman was conquered, to the latter's genuinesatisfaction. He secretly took a profound interest in her, and was nevertired of observing her ways. It gave him pride to reflect what animportant factor he was in her career, and to think that, save for him,such a beautiful creature had been entirely lost to the world. Thesefeelings were inspired and lifted beyond mere mercenary and selfishconsiderations by the same native superiority, which seemed to command hisdeference, and assign her to a higher sphere. Nor did the effect of hisintercourse with her end here. Her beauty and purity were unconsciouslyleavening the dark depths of his mind, and quickening unaccustomedthoughts with a new spirit of nobility and refinement.
With these influences silently at work, the time which the Suburan wasspending, in his sojourn under the roof of his relatives, was productiveof more good, even morally than physically; whilst Neaera's presence easilyreconciled him to the lapse of time which, as day after day passed on,seemed to bring him no nearer to the proper accomplishment of his greatend. Whatever kindly metamorphosis was taking place in his thoughts anddisposition, that one resolution which had brought him hither suffered nochange or modification. It rose superior to the rest--the gloomy, immovablemountain of his mind, to the dark bosom of which all meditations tendedand circled, and beyond which speculation never ventured a step, as ifexistence had there an end. One of his favourite excursions was to thenearest headland on the western coast, whence the island of Capreae couldbe seen afar resting in the waters. There he would sit and gaze upon itsrugged outline; amusing himself by imagining the mov
ements of his patron,hugging himself with delight, and chuckling audibly, as he conjured beforehis mind's eye the fancy picture, oft-repeated, of the confusion, the rageand despair of the knight, on that joyous day of revenge, which washurrying on. At such moments, which were very frequent, the Suburan'sblood would tingle in his veins, and his spirit chafe in vehementimpatience at the tardy approach of his wished-for opportunity. He wouldstretch forth his fist and shake it, in helpless wrath, at the rocky islewhich afforded his enemy an asylum, and where he himself was unable toenter,--nor dared, had he the opportunity. So often as he felt impelled,though against his reason, to the same fruitless survey, so often theisland seemed to mock him with its changeless form, its very sloth amidthe waters, its silence, its impenetrable rocks and impervious mystery. Itemitted nothing from which he might glean a reliable idea of thedisposition of affairs within its jealous bosom. He could do nothing butgaze at the irritating sight with a kind of fascination, and anathematiseit, with all it contained, from Caesar downward. His cunning and vigilancewere helpless, and he was compelled to realise that nothing was left tohim but patience and watchfulness. As long as Afer remained in Capreae hecould not work out his plan. He was, therefore, eager and anxious forevery appearance of Martialis from the island, in the hope of learning ofthe early departure of the Prefect and his friends for Rome.
He was revolving the possibilities of such an appearance one afternoon,whilst lending Neaera some assistance in carrying a basket of newearthenware into the front shop, and arranging them on the shelves. Whenhe had finished, he leisurely swung his cloak around him before he setforth on his usual stroll to the Marina, and admiringly watched thegraceful movements of the maiden's tall figure, as she put the finishingtouches of arrangement to the wares on the shelf above her head. With afinal, critical glance, she turned round and met his gaze.
'Well,' she said smilingly, 'are you not gone?'
'I was doubtful which way to take,' he replied; 'but if you have anythingmore for me to help you with I would as lieve stay.'
'No, nothing at all; but wait one moment, uncle,' she added quickly andsoftly, whilst her face at the same time assumed an earnest look as ifstruck by a sudden thought. 'Tell me what ails my father?'
As she stood upright, with her head poised a little backward, her statureequalled his, and her calm, gray eyes looked full into his own. Withanother questioner, those small orbs of his would have twinkled keenly, ashis tongue rapped out a ready evasion or bantering retort. But now theywandered to the pots on the shelves, during a moment of unwontedembarrassment and silent indecision. It was only for a brief moment,however, and his glance met hers again.
'What ails your father, Neaera?' he said quietly; 'I don't see that he ailsanything. He seems as sound in health as ever, to my eyes. Why, what isthe matter with him?'
'That I am asking you--not as regards his bodily health; that is soundenough, as you say, thank the gods. But there is some trouble--somethingpreying on his mind: have you not noticed it?'
'I am sorry to hear you say it,' replied Cestus, slowly shaking his head;'but I am not so well acquainted with his ways and humours as you are.'
'He has no ways and humours,' she retorted swiftly, with a slight butsignificant rearing of her form--'at least no strange ways or humours. Heis ever open, cheerful, and light-hearted, without a shadow of ill-humour.Now he is silent and gloomy, and hides away from us--what is it?'
There was a tremor in her voice, and in the eyes, which still weresteadfastly fixed on his face, he saw the trembling gleam of tears.
'Nay, how should I know better than his daughter?' he said, lookinguncomfortably at the pots once more.
'His daughter knows nothing save this, that this trouble, whatever it maybe, which weighs upon him, began at the time you came here from Rome.'
'Ah, then,' said Cestus, shrugging his shoulders and drawing a deep breathas if relieved, 'if that is but the measure of the evil, it is easilymended by my shouldering my wallet and tramping back to Rome. You shouldhave told me this before. I wouldn't be a burden to the house, and be thecause of bringing a shadow on your pretty brow for all Surrentum.'
'Ah! I meant not that,' she said hastily, with a delicate colour flushingher cheeks.
He shook his head, and his broad face expanded still more with a grin.
'I've noticed that you usually say what you mean, Neaera; so tell me nowplainly to go, nor shall I be offended at your plain speaking.'
'If you put that meaning on my words you are wrong, and I ought not tohave spoken them. What I thought was, that you might have brought him illnews, or something which weighs on his mind.'
'I! why I have not seen or heard from him for fourteen long years! Wemight as well have been dead all that time. What could I have brought withme to trouble him? Like enough, it is as you say. He's bothered to have ane'er-do-well about him and his. I'll try and find out; and, if 'tis so,I'll march straight away.'
'I remember that he was strangely overjoyed to see you,' replied Neaera,gazing steadily at him.
'And without doubt he was, for he is too good-hearted to be sorry to seeeven a vagabond like myself turn up again. But I will do my best to tryand find out the trouble and move it, and, failing that, move myself.'
'If you are so determined to find yourself in fault I cannot help it,since you will not believe what I say.'
'The best of guests can outstay his welcome; what then must it be withme?'
'As you will,' ejaculated Neaera curtly, and she turned again to the potson the shelves with great dignity.
Cestus grinned and his eyes twinkled.
'At least you couldn't deny that if I went to-day you would feel as if aload was off your shoulders, and you would sit down to your supper with abetter appetite.'
'You know that is not a fair way of speaking, and I shall not answer,' shesaid, turning round with reproof in her eyes.
'Well! well! I am not so foolish as to expect that I can be like one ofyourselves in the house,' he replied, not caring to push the matter anyfurther. 'It is your good treatment which has made me selfish. However, Imay be able to do you all a good turn some day, and show you that I canremember a kindness.'
'There is no need, and you have no right to persist in talking like this;we have given you no cause--our house was never so shamed as to turn aguest from its doors.'
'Nay, that I will swear,' said Cestus humbly; 'I am a good deal in jest,but my conscience is not altogether easy. The fresh air of this place haspulled me round, and I am as strong as ever. I will go back to Rome like agiant--why should I cumber you any longer? It would be bad manners.Moreover I am city bred, and the peace and quiet of this place, beautifulas it is, begins to make me fret after crowded streets. Such is nature.The roar and bustle of Rome would weary you just as soon, and you would bethankful to return to your fresh air and sleepy town. Would you like to goto Rome, Neaera?'
'Ah!' she said.
Cunning Cestus to put such a question to a young provincial girl. It wasfor nothing but the mischievous curiosity of watching the sparkle in hereye, and the deep heave of her bosom at the very mention of such a thing.
'Will you go back with me for a time?' said the voice of the tempter. 'Noone would take better care of you than I: no one knows the city and itsways better than I--every day for weeks could I show you new sights.'
But Neaera could only say no, and shake her head in a despairing way.
'I would not be happy to leave my father.'
'Let him come too.'
'It would be useless to ask him.'
'For your sake he would come.'
'For the sake of a pleasure trip?--No! Besides he has been there, and notlong since returned.'
'And was not that on your account? What he has done once can he not doagain? You know right well that he is never so happy as when you arepleased. His own enjoyment would be as great as yours.'
'It is out of the question,' said Neaera firmly, though her cheeks flushed;and Cestus, who had seated himself on a
stool, regarded her with evident,though restrained enjoyment.
'Yes, it is quite true he has been to Rome on your account and no other,'he continued, 'and it is just as true, in my mind, that he will go thereagain on your account.'
Neaera raised her eyes to his and the wondering expression was sufficientdemand for explanation without speech.
'There is no need for me to take you. You will go there by and by inbetter company, and your father and mother, mark my words, will follow tobe near you.'
Her cheek gathered a faint colour again, but an expression of deep sadnessstole over her face, and she turned her head aside. The Suburan poredkeenly upon the perfect loveliness of her profile, which showed insingular relief under the white light streaming upon it from the open-fronted shop. He studied it intently, and, to judge from the expression ofhis countenance, with great satisfaction. Not altogether with the ordinarygratification which naturally arises from the contemplation of beauty,but, in this case, a particular satisfaction proceeding from the powerfulrecollections which her face inspired. A similar sweetness, a similar puresymmetry and nobility, was recalled to his mind, and he admired,therefore, with a double pleasure.
'Have no fear, your father will follow,' said Cestus assuringly. 'One neednot be an augur to foretell that.'
'Alas, I think it is only I myself that give him this trouble,' repliedNeaera, with a heavy sigh.
'Not at all!' responded Cestus, never telling a lie with more pleasure. 'Idon't know what's the matter, but it isn't that. It will all come right--itisn't sunshine every day. Wait till I'm gone--I only want to see one personbefore I go, and perhaps you will tell me how long I shall have to wait.'
'Who do you mean?' said Neaera absently.
'Why, the man who will, before long, take you to Rome--the Centurion.'
'I know not that he will take me thither, and what can you want with him?'said Neaera.
'Merely a question or two--you see he has but a poor opinion of me, I amafraid, and I would like to part better friends. I may be able to do him aservice some day--who knows?'
'He comes when he can,' said Neaera.
'Humph!' replied Cestus, 'that's as sure as death; but can you give menothing nearer?'
'Nothing--he might be here to-day, or he might be a month. But what do youwant to ask him?'
'Nothing, except for a little information connected with some business ofmy own; and to tell him to get you away from here as soon as possible, sothat I may be able to get a glimpse of you again before long in the city.'
He laughed and rose from his seat about to go forth into the town.
'The proud dames of the Centurion's order will perhaps pretend to sneer atyou,' he went on, 'but you need not mind--you will have the laugh of them,for you will be the handsomest wife in the city. 'Twill be a great changefrom Surrentum to Rome--from a potter's daughter to a noble name. But neverfear; you will be as pat in the place as you are here. Proud dames anddamsels! the handsomest wife in Rome--you will have the laugh of them.'
'I seek to interfere with none of them,' said Neaera; 'you talk idly,uncle; I am still the potter's daughter.'
'That is so!' said Cestus; 'now I'm off!'
He stepped to the door of the shop, and, after the manner of many people,and more especially those whose time is not too fully occupied, hehesitated when he stood on the step, as if to collect his thoughts into asingle steady current of deliberation before he finally advanced. Thismomentary halt for reflection was accompanied by an abstracted glanceround the familiar objects out-of-doors. To the left was to be seennothing but the moss and creeper-grown wall of the road, which crossed atright angles, some fifty yards away; to the right, the sparsely built andquiet lane trended away toward the town. The only signs of life therein,at that moment, were two or three groups of children playing, a couple ofdames standing in the roadway to gossip, as they met carrying their waterpitchers, and, at a distance of a hundred yards or so, two men leisurelyadvancing. Turning from the blank prospect on the left to the sight ofthese two individuals on the right, the lack-lustre, pre-occupied gaze ofthe Suburan snapped electrically into acute attention. Instinctively heshrank back behind the shelter of the broad doorpost, and, for the fewbrief moments, he assumed the functions of a savage animal, or itsimitator, the savage hunter. His ears seemed to prick up; his body took anattitude bent slightly forward, with muscles braced and corded, and headthrust prominently out. His heavy thick brows were knitted down so low asalmost to obscure his intense gaze, and his stiff stubbly-bearded lipswere clenched and protruding. Altogether the change was so rapid, and hispresent appearance so menacing and absorbed, that Neaera, about to resumeher occupation, was struck with surprise.
Her eyes naturally followed in the direction of his concentrated gaze, butowing to her backward position inside the shop, nothing met her view.
'What is it?' she said, stepping to his side to look.
Her voice recalled the Suburan to himself, and straightening himself up,he cast a parting glance at the new-comers, now close at hand, and turnedaway into the house, saying hurriedly he had forgotten something.
The strange behaviour of Cestus stuck in the mind of Neaera, and she stoodin the doorway puzzling her brains for a reason. Suddenly she became awarethat the two men had drawn within twenty or thirty yards, and wereregarding her with a direct gaze. Recovering herself abruptly, she turnedaway inside, and remained with her back to the road, until they shouldpass on. But in this she was disappointed, for a foot sounded on the step,and a voice said, 'You can wait, Erotion!'
In the meantime, Cestus left the shop, and rushed into the little room,previously described as a kind of state apartment, which lay between theshop on one side, and the kitchen on the other. Into the wall dividingthis room from the shop was let a small square window, unglazed, whichadmitted air and light at second hand. It was rather high up, and a coupleof small statuettes stood in the opening. Cestus bounded on to the couchwhich stood underneath, and, stepping unto the topmost pinnacle of itsframework, he was enabled to bring his eyes sufficiently high to overlookwhat passed in the shop. He furthermore arranged the little statuettescloser together, in order to still more shield the small portion ofhimself from any possible chance of observation. All this was inspired byinstinct, which never admitted of any doubt, and he had only just taken uphis post, when Afer, and his Greek, Erotion, stopped before the door ofthe shop.
'I knew it when I caught sight of them,' muttered the Suburan, withburning eyes and tumultuous breathing. 'What brings him here, of allplaces in the world? What is in his brain now? What does it mean? Does heknow anything?'
He was quivering with intense excitement, and, but for the dark stainwhich he still used for his skin, his face would have been ashy white. Athousand fears and forebodings tore his mind, whilst nervous dread andhate shook him till his frame quivered like a leaf. With his faculties attheir utmost stretch he watched and listened for what should follow.
After a close scrutiny, as if to assure himself, Afer entered the shop,and Cestus observed, with satisfaction, that the lynx-eyed Erotionremained in the roadway. The further the Greek was away the freer hebreathed, for he knew his profound subtlety of old.
Neaera heard the leisurely step of the knight behind her, but did not turnuntil he spoke and called her attention to his presence. Then her gazerested on the visitor, whose person was clothed in its accustomedperfection of style and taste, even to a fold, and whose white andcarefully-kept hands glittered with gems. Customers of rank and positionwere not altogether new to her, since Masthlion had a certain reputationfor the character of his work, so that she was in no wise disconcerted onaccount of the superior grade of the comer; but there was that in theexpression of his closely-set, glistening, black eyes and superciliouslips, which affected her uncomfortably. He, moreover, treated her to aleisurely survey, which might have passed without remark, had its objectbeen the merits of a horse or dog, but which the beautiful girl resentedinwardly for its impertinent freedom and boldness. Th
e half nodding,condescending approval which plainly showed on his face, roused herindignation even more, and, with a flush on her cheeks, she drew up hertall frame, and returned him a glance of high displeasure. Afer faintlysmiled, evidently amused thereat. He curled his thin lips, and spoke againwith a faint drawl in his tone, whilst Cestus, above at his post, groundhis teeth in suppressed rage.
'This is the shop of Masthlion the potter?'
'It is!' replied Neaera, briefly and coldly.
Afer scanned her over and smiled again--the girl was certainly favouredwith good looks, but, at the same time, it was amusing to observe to whatgreat extent the knowledge of the fact had increased her importance in herown eyes.
'I have heard that he is skilful in his work, and I came to see formyself; these are his handiwork, I presume?'
He nodded to the ware with which the shelves were filled, and his querywas answered in the affirmative.
'I will look at them. You are his daughter; is it not so?'
'I am,' replied Neaera, and resolving to be rid of the company of thisindividual, whose impertinence and patronising air were so irritating, sheadded that her father should attend to his wants himself, and sheaccordingly turned to go to the workshop and fetch him.
'No! no!' exclaimed Afer, detaining her with his hand, and giving a slightlaugh, 'I have no consuming desire to make your worthy father'sacquaintance; and, besides, there is no occasion to take him from hiswork. He is industrious, and would not like it, and, moreover, knows verywell that the care of his customers is in better hands as it is. Iprefer--and who would not--to have your own fair hands submit thesespecimens for my approval, and your own fair lips to sound their praises.'
'Will you please to look for yourself, noble sir, and see whether there beanything suitable?' answered Neaera, curtly and loftily.
'Naturally,' he replied, with a cold smile, 'but am I not to have your aidin my selection?'
'I cannot perceive how I can be of help; you know your own taste betterthan I.'
'It is true I have been thought to have some small share of taste in suchmatters, and to comprehend thoroughly what little I possess; but in themidst of such a bewildering collection of treasures as I see here aroundme, my perception is at fault, and requires strengthening. I require onespecimen, and I leave the selection to your superior judgment.'
The knight allowed his eyes to sweep round at the 'treasures' withinfinite scorn. Surrentine ware was well known, but it was only of a lowerorder, and held no place in the eyes of the art critic, or on the shelvesof the wealthy.
Whether Neaera comprehended her customer's tone or not, her face gave nosign; but, without the least hesitation, she stepped before him andreached down a vase, about twelve inches high, and held it to his hands.It was more elaborate in design, and more highly finished than any in theshop, and a fellow to it remained on the shelf.
'This pair, then, is the best and the handsomest I can offer.'
'I am content,' he replied, with the faintest little sneer, as he touchedthe vase with the extreme tip of one of his white jewelled fingers, andturned it slightly to one side and then to the other; 'they shall have aniche in my atrium on the Esquiline, and the rest of my wretched littleRoman pots and pipkins shall bow down before them. And the price thereof,the paltry equivalent to such masterpieces?'
We have no record of the market price of Surrentine industry, but with theutmost readiness and _sang froid_, Neaera calmly named a price that causedthe knight to start and frown portentously, being an undoubted authorityon such matters, and a keen bargainer by nature as well as necessity.
Cestus, in his observatory, opened his mouth and eyes in blankastonishment for a moment; for, having passed no small portion of his idletime in the shop, he had learned tolerably well the prices of the simplegoods, and of these articles now offered in particular. They had remainedunsold since his arrival, whilst ranks of others of simple utility hadfound owners, in the meantime; so that Cestus, well acquainted with them,was amazed to hear the girl ask a price at least ten times greater thanthat which he knew to be their fixed value. He stared down from hisloophole upon her, but she stood calmly waiting before her customer, andwhen the glance of the Suburan wandered to the expression on the face ofthe knight, his former patron, his delight was such as nearly caused himto laugh outright. 'Now stand to your bargain, you cur,' he muttered, amidmany chuckles. 'By Hercles, she's touched him; she couldn't have thrustdeeper; she might have known him as I do--clever wench!'
'You approve, then?' said Neaera. 'Shall I call your slave to take them?'She made a move as if to take down the vase remaining on the shelf, but heraised his flashing fingers deprecatingly.
'Stay,' he replied, as his look of disgust relapsed once more into itsformer superciliousness; 'I don't question your taste for one moment, butI take leave to challenge your memory--you must surely be mistaken as tothe price you put on these wonderful specimens. In my humble opinion it isquite prohibitive, and out of all proportion to the intrinsic value of thethings.'
'I have done as you desired me to do.'
'Yes, yes; but the cost?'
'Is what I have already told you, and I cannot alter it one penny.'
'It is out of reason, and on that account, much as I would wish to profitby your judgment, I shall be compelled to forego it.'
'Ah!' snarled Cestus.
'And truly,' continued Afer, 'the sum required is so large, that I doubtwhether my slave's purse contains sufficient to discharge the debt, evensupposing I think right to incur it.'
'Pah!' was the muttered commentary of the Suburan, given with fathomlesscontempt, 'the liar! He knows to a farthing what the fellow's pouch has init--nothing beyond a few copper coins, I'll warrant; and woe betide him ifhe can't square his reckoning when he gets home.'
'In that case, I suppose, I should be right in saying that such a poorwretch as myself could never hope for credit,' continued Afer, with asneer.
'You are a perfect stranger, sir,' replied Neaera.
'Exactly--with no recommendation. I shall, therefore, be compelled toselect something more in keeping with my humble resources of ready coin,which, I am afraid, will be an impossible task, if prices are all leviedat the same modest computation.'
'This, then, perhaps you may approve of,' said Neaera promptly; and goingto the opposite end of the shop, she took and handed to him a small brownvessel, two or three inches high, without any more pretension to beautythan any ordinary glass bottle.
'Ah, now you have hit my taste exactly,' exclaimed Afer, receiving theplainest of plain articles in his hand with the blandest smile ofexquisite irony; 'you have indeed gauged my ideas to a nicety. The otherarticles were really as much beyond my artistic appreciation as their costwas above my poor purse; but this is delightful in its beautifulsimplicity--I wait to hear you name its price.'
Neaera informed him. 'Good! I accept,' said he; 'it is modest indeed. Itis, I think, within my means, and I am relieved in mind. Hither, Erotion!Take this, and pay what is asked of you.'
While the young Greek was producing the two or three copper coins whichwere needed, his master arranged his cloak and took his leave. Neaera tookthe money from the slave, who bestowed upon her an admiring gaze, withsomething of the same license as his master.
'I am glad to find your father's fame has not been belied,' observed Afer;'it is only too evident. The next time I come I shall come betterprovided; yet, even with this little treasure which I have been fortunateenough to secure, I shall no doubt be able to induce many others to followmy example.'
So saying, and showing his white teeth with a smile, he left the shopfollowed by Erotion, who, on his own account, turned as he passed throughthe door, and smirked behind him, leaving Neaera standing with the deepestindignation in her face.
They had scarcely passed from view when Cestus hurriedly re-entered theshop, and going to the door peered after them.
'Did you see them--do you know them?' exclaimed Neaera.
'Yes, yes, I saw th
em come along--I have seen him somewhere before--I willtry and think before I come back,' answered Cestus hastily. 'I will gothrough the fields, I think, for a stroll.'
He retreated through the house, and crossing the small patch of garden inthe rear, emerged into a cart-track. This ran more or less parallel withthe street, and skirted the gardens and little fields belonging to thehouses. Here and there was a path for convenience of communication betweenthe main and back thoroughfares, and Cestus ran ahead until he reachedsuch an one which commanded a ready view from end to end. At the bottom ofthis he waited a few moments, until he saw the forms of Afer and his slavecross the upper end, and then, being sure he was in their rear, he walkedup into the street. He either forgot his altered appearance, or had suchsmall faith in its ability to mislead those whom he was now dogging, thathe followed with the extreme care of a hunter tracking a wild animalthrough its native woods. He kept them in view at the furthest possibledistance; stopped when they stopped, and cowered behind walls or anythingwhich came handiest, to avoid the slightest chance of being noticed. Oneof the first actions he observed was that of Erotion, who, in answer tosomething which his master said, threw away to one side an article hecarried. Cestus instinctively guessed what it was, and following on,passed the fragments of the small, recently-purchased pot lying at thefoot of a wall. This act confirmed his suspicions, that his formerpatron's object in visiting Masthlion's shop was distinctly not that ofbuying of the wares it contained. The Suburan, in consequence, plungedstill deeper into an agony of suspicion, and as often as he soothedhimself with the fact that it was impossible that Neaera's identity couldbe known, so often he plagued himself afresh with the question of itsprobability.
Step by step he pursued the leisurely track of the knight until theyreached the centre of the town, where Afer visited one or two shops. Afterthis they entered the baths, and Cestus was left to cool his heels for aconsiderable time outside. He was a sleuth-hound of undaunted mettle,however, when once on a scent, and there being a wine-shop at no greatdistance, whence he could watch the door of the building his quarry hadentered, he proceeded thither, and sat patiently over a bowl of thin wine.He was determined to see the last of them, since he could neither live normove in peace, if haunted by the possibility of encountering them at anychance time face to face. After a long delay his patience was rewarded bythe sight of the knight issuing refreshed from the bath, and taking hisway, followed by his retainer, toward the Marina. Here they perhaps meantto take boat to the island, thought Cestus, with a sigh of relief. But no,he was disappointed; for they entered an inn of considerable pretensions,and the Suburan was doomed to another lengthy delay, whilst the knight wasmost probably dining. The afternoon was wearing on. The dusk was beginningto thicken when the watcher's eyes were once more gladdened by theappearance of master and slave. He rejoiced to see them saunter across tothe steps which led down to the Marina. Thence he had no more need tofollow, but, leaning over the cliff, observed their movements withoutdifficulty and danger, and ere long watched them speeding over thedarkening sea before a fair breeze. Cestus gave a deep sigh of relief.When they were nearly out of sight he turned homeward, and, for a seasonat least, was at liberty to devote his attention entirely to his owndeliberations.
Neæra: A Tale of Ancient Rome Page 23
