Neæra: A Tale of Ancient Rome

by Joel Chandler Harris

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  Some days subsequently, Plautia stood with her arms resting on the parapetof the garden wall which edged the cliffs.

  Her mood was one of profound abstraction, and the fixed gaze of her eyesseemed to be unconscious of the endless beauties of the scene which laywithin the scan of that giddy height. The rays of the autumn sunlight,mingling with the opal-coloured light, the deepening shades of thewhispering sea, the changing tints of the mountains, and the white gleamof the cities fringing the sweep of the distant shores, were far from hermind. No sound arose to the secluded spot on high, save the mysteriousmurmur of nature, so favourable to an utter absorption of mind, until thegrate of a human foot behind aroused her with a start. Turning round shebeheld Afer standing within a few yards, gazing at her intently.

  Since the banquet the manner of Plautia had become that of one quitereconciled to her situation. Nay, it rather betokened satisfaction andpleasure judging by outward manifestation. She had seemingly earnedcomplete freedom also, since she came and went wherever and whenever shepleased, without being subjected to any galling symptom of restraint. Herapartments were free of access to whosoever chose to visit her, thoughthese were necessarily few in number. To Tiberius himself she jestinglycontrasted her later freedom with her first day's experience. He lightlyreturned, that he prided himself upon the better judgment he had shown, inperceiving the unreality of her momentary dissatisfaction; and that now,since time had proved him to be right, she might call herself the Queen ofCapreae, and do aught her mind might fancy, save attempt to quit theisland. This he added smilingly, with the customary shake of hisforefinger; but, whether it was an earnest injunction veiled in jest,Plautia had not as yet thought proper to prove.

  In accordance with this disposition of affairs Afer had first presentedhimself at her apartments, and, by direction of her attendants, hadfollowed her to the garden.

  His cheeks seemed hollower and more drawn, and his glance was haggard andrestless. For the rest, his attire and bearing were unchanged in theirfaultless taste and neatness. Plautia did not quit her position, butsimply turned her back against the wall, with her elbows thrust behind heron the top of the stones. The grace of her splendid form was thusadmirably displayed, but the posture was strongly suggestive of carelessindifference. The languid gaze, and the lifeless drawl of her salutation,were even more devoid of the sense of politeness; but he, nevertheless,drew nearer to her.

  'They told me you were here, so I made bold to follow you,' he said. 'Nowonder the evening has tempted you forth with its loveliness.'

  She gave a faint yawn, and turned her glance languidly another way, in amanner distinctly rude and heedless.

  His gloomy eyes flashed, and his hand clenched for a moment in anger.

  'I have interfered with your solitary enjoyment of the scene.'

  'I was thinking nothing of it,' she replied carelessly.

  'Intent, perhaps, upon the thoughts of Rome, far away across the watersthere--your eyes seemed fixed in that direction.'

  'You are mistaken.'

  'Pardon, Plautia, for having intruded myself so unpleasantly and untimely.It is all the more to be regretted, inasmuch as I sought you with the hopeof your favour, having just received letters from Rome.'

  'And how could the letters of Titus Afer possibly concern me?'

  'Being discursive they might probably contain something to interest you,in the current affairs of the city we love so well.'

  'Humph!' she said drily, with her gaze still fixed down the garden. 'Youare speaking for yourself. You are growing thin and pale, Afer, andabsence from the city you love so well is trying you. You are frettingafter the airy height of the Esquiline, and the view of the housetops fromyour own portico.'

  'You, who have left it so recently, can so far afford to mock me,' heretorted sarcastically. 'I will plead guilty to the charge in order not tospoil the jest.'

  'It is not worth another word.'

  'My correspondent tells me that Rome is wondering what is passing in theisland here.'

  'It is not surprising in the city, when one considers the power andimportance of the absentees--including yourself!' said she.

  'Of course,' responded Afer, growing paler; 'nor, at the same time, mustsuch a powerful factor in the Imperial destinies as the beauty of Plautiabe omitted.'

  Plautia smiled and showed her pearly teeth, and the face of the knightgrew whiter than ever.

  'It seems that, surprised as the poor exiles on this island were at yourappearance, the citizens are even more mystified at your disappearancethere. It is totally inexplicable. Rumour says you have been stolen,murdered, and so on' (Plautia's smile deepened as she caught the fiercelysuppressed tremor of anger in his voice); 'or translated to thecompanionship of the immortals, after the fashion of old,' he continued;'that is even believed in. One individual, at least, is inconsolable,frantic, desperate--mad, if you like. Searching day and night--wanderingsleepless like a spectre.'

  'Only one, Afer--do they tell you of only one?' she said ironically.

  'Only one in such sad straits,' he responded. 'You can guess probably whoit is.'

  Plautia shrugged her shoulders carelessly.

  'So may one love you and perish--O wretched example!' he said bitterly. 'Ifthe miserable man could only have seen that careless shrug of yourpitiless shoulders.'

  'The idiot--he has seen many such, doubtless. Am I to be answerable for thepresumption of such fools?' said she, turning her head swiftly toward himwith a withering blast of scorn and contempt.

  The knight's face became like pallid marble, but, apparently impenetrable,he replied--

  'Surely not, if it be of their own cultivation. There can be no blame toyou.'

  'Thanks!'

  'Nevertheless one should feel pity and not scorn; for who knows how soonthe same fate may overtake oneself? Ill-starred Martialis is not the firstnor the last who has suffered from misplaced infatuation.'

  Her face was in profile, and his eyes scanned it keenly.

  'Of course Plautia knows I am speaking of Caius Martialis, the bosomfriend of Apicius,' he went on, with slow distinctness. 'There is alsoanother Martialis, his brother Lucius, a Centurion of the Pretorian guard,at present in attendance here on our worthy friend the Prefect. Do youknow this one?'

  'It matters not whether I do or not; it is not worth the trouble to tryand remember. I am ever grateful for your visit, your company, yourentertaining conversation, which has beguiled my loneliness. And now Imust bid good-night--it grows chilly.'

  She roused herself from her leaning posture, and gathered up her draperypreparatory to moving off. Afer's eyes were still riveted on hercountenance. Her mocking words were easily borne after the insultingdemeanour already experienced. Something like a cold smile rested on hislips as he watched her. He did not feel disposed to leave her yet. Herbehaviour had stung him deeply, and the bitterness which gnawed him sogrievously was too keen to be borne without the solace of retaliation. Hewaited a few moments until she was on the point of retiring, without anyfurther notice of him, and then said, in a low voice--

  'It would be better worth your while than you think, Plautia, to strive toremember if the soldier-brother be amongst your acquaintance or not.'

  'Another time when I am more disposed,' she sternly answered, beginning todescend the grassy mound on which they stood.

  'At your own gracious pleasure,' he repined, as he leisurely followed. 'Imentioned it, because I thought it might interest you to know, thatwhether the acquaintance really exist or not, there are rumours in theisland of a somewhat close relationship between you.'

  She stopped short, and turned round upon him--so swiftly and sharply, thatthe skirts and folds of her garments whirled out on the air.

  'Rumours--what rumours? What close relationship? What do you mean?' shesaid, with the haughtiness of a queen to a slave.

  'Nothing, but what my words plainly convey. Let me repeat--it is said inthe island that a
warm friendship exists between yourself and theCenturion Martialis.'

  'And what of that? Is it not permitted to me to have warm friends as wellas others?'

  He gently shrugged his shoulders, and the action brought the sudden fireto her eyes and the colour to her cheeks. Noting the signs he looked downand smiled covertly, to her intense irritation.

  'Do you wish to trifle with me, Afer?' she said, in a dangerous tone.

  'I would rather brave Tiberius himself,' he replied, with a bow, which waslower than humility itself; 'far from trifling, I merely alluded to thatwhich passes current in the island; but, if it be distasteful to you, Iregret I was the unlucky means of making it known.'

  'My friends are always of my choosing; I ever abide by my choice andsuffer no other interference. It is true I remember to have met theyounger Martialis on chance occasions in the city. It is hardly possiblethat it should be otherwise, since the brother haunts me like a pestilentshadow. That should all the more predispose me to increase the intimacywith the name as little as possible. The tale of the elder brother's follyhas followed even here, Afer, and the good idle Capreans have saddled iton the wrong man--the mistake is obvious.'

  'That would have been the most probable explanation doubtless, if I weresure that the idle babbling had arisen amongst the islanders themselves.'

  'Psa!' ejaculated she, sweeping round again, as if contemptuously droppingall further thought of the subject.

  She walked on a few yards with the knight following. Then she turnedsharply round on her heel and confronted him again. The movement wasunexpected, and she caught a smile on his lip. She stamped her foot.

  'Tell me, what this is--what it all means! Quick, man!'

  'The thorn has stuck,' he murmured imperceptibly, as he hesitated andlooked down.

  'Speak!' continued the angry imperious tones.

  'I knew she could not rest with that prickle rankling in her mind,' hecontinued inwardly; 'now her haughtiness shall dance to my piping and payfor her insolence.'

  A vehement snatch of her hand at his arm roused him.

  'Do you hear, Afer? Speak when I ask you!'

  Raising his head he looked at her with provoking gravity, and his studieddeliberate manner easily attained the effect he designed for it.

  At no time did she appear so superb, as when her impetuous blood wasstirred, and the excitement of anger glowed in her cheeks and flashed inher eyes. He gazed upon her with a double gratification, for, while hisglance drank in the spectacle of her kindled beauty, his heart warmed witha savage joy of power.

  Her contemptuous bearing had filled him with a devouring tumult ofpassions, none the less fierce, because of the powerful restraint whichstifled them.

  All the arts of sympathetic love and compassion may be lavished on a mindwhich lies numb in the chill death of its hope of hopes; but let the venomof contempt be flung upon it, from a certain eye or lip, and itstraightway surges from its icy torpor with the fire and fury of deadlyhate.

  Above the wild passion which sickened in the heart of Afer, struggledresentment and profound indignation. He calmly looked back the flashinggaze of his companion, and a faintly mocking smile curved his lips.

  'Yes, I hear,' he said at length; 'of what do you wish me to speak?'

  'Of what? You are bent on provoking me. Are we not talking--did you notspeak of some rumour or tavern gossip of the island at my expense?'

  'Since your appearance in Caesar's villa, as a guest, the island ismightily interested in you, and, naturally, the tongue follows the bent ofthe mind. Many rumours and conjectures are doubtless rife concerning you.To which would you have me refer?'

  'You are playing with me, I repeat--you dare to do so,' she replied; and heplainly saw the effort it cost her to speak, as she did, in a quiet tone.'You either know something, or nothing--to the point then, quickly.'

  'Your displeasure is so swift and heavy that it behoves me to be mostprudent and cautious. Give me to understand of what I am to speak----'

  'People call you wise and subtle, but, to me, your prudence and cautionsavours very much of the profound wisdom of the bird of Minerva.'

  'It is a sapient fowl which flies about in the night-time only, and,doubtless, sees many strange things in moonlight and shade,' said he.

  'Once again--do you refuse to answer me?'

  'Surely not, in reply to a direct question,' he answered, as if taking amalicious pleasure in forcing her to mention names.

  'I will give you a cue then,' said she; 'you mentioned rumours concerningme--tell me all you know.'

  'There is only one worth repeating.'

  'And that refers to Martialis.'

  She was pale, with the exception of a bright, red spot on either cheek,and, perceiving by her look and tone, that it would be imprudent to tryher further, he nodded affirmatively.

  'And could you not say so before?' she asked, with an indescribable sneerwhich stung him to the quick.

  'Not until you yourself had uttered the name, should I have dared tomention what might prove disagreeable,' he replied derisively.

  'Proceed, then, and without fear.'

  'It will require but few words. You arrived in a mysterious manner; and,it is said, you came hither of your own accord, because you could nolonger endure the absence of the handsome Centurion Martialis from Rome!'

  'Psa! You are too ridiculous.'

  She laughed outright, but the knight, though he could not but admire herself-possession, could hardly fail to detect the false ring on her tones.

  'And this is the portentous secret you drag forth so mysteriously,' shecried; 'this is what you have heard in the wine-shops and on the Marina!Worthy, idle Capreans! And you, Titus Afer--subtle Titus Afer--to what anempty, pitiful condition of mind, has the sleepy stagnation of this pileof rocks amid the sea brought you, that such an idle fable should sooccupy your thoughts as to relate it seriously and solemnly to me.'

  'I admit that one's faculties are apt to rust amid the sluggishtranquillity of this place,' replied Afer, with a sigh of charmingsoftness. 'The whole thing is absurd, but for the extraordinary fact, thatthe wonderful story is not the production of the gossips themselves.Instead of being born in the village below, it has flowed from the villaabove--from headquarters itself.'

  As a matter of fact, the details of Plautia's romantic adventure hadspread no further than the reader is already aware of, but theunscrupulous knight knew the power of such a statement, false as it was,and, therefore, made it without hesitation. To have given the rumour onthe authority of the simple islanders themselves, was to have rendered itof no weight with her; but to boldly state that it proceeded from thevilla, was at once to load her with the maddening suspicion that she hadbeen betrayed. Thus to include the man he hated, by one master-stroke, wasa worthy revenge, and he perpetrated the falsehood with an utterrecklessness of discovery. He was prepared to exult over an explosion ofwrath, or, better still, to gloat over an exhibition of shame andabasement, which would have left him master of the field, in a triumph tolast as long as life. But to have reckoned on any mood of weakness, heperceived, at once, was vain. His quiet words fell on her ears with anunexpectedness that struck her dumb for a few moments.

  Martialis must have betrayed her--had probably told all to his comrades, asan excellent joke and boast; and for all she knew, she had, perhaps, beenthe sport and object of secret laughter to every one around. Her prideboiled--her head whirled. Her eyes dilated and her robust frame trembled asif seized with ague.

  'Infamous!' she cried, at length, in a choking voice. 'But say you aretrifling with me, Afer, and this is the crown of your jest.'

  'I am not so mad,' he replied, dwelling with complete satisfaction on theeffect of his communication.

  'From whom, then, in the villa, has such a slander sprung?'

  'That I cannot say.'

  'I must know.'

  'Drowning were too good for him.'

  'Him!'

  'Him,' repeated the knight, with a nod. 'There ar
e no women in the villawho could possibly be the author of such a story. It is certain to be aman. Have you no suspicion?'

  He could hear the grate of her teeth as she breathed heavily and rapidlythrough her nostrils.

  'Suspicion!' she cried, after some inarticulate sounds. 'How am I to know?A lie--it is for any one--what is easier? A scullion--Caesar--any one can makea lie! It is another matter to discover it--the coward!'

  'Who?' demanded Afer, starting at the fierce intensity of the epithet.

  'The coward--the liar, whoever he may be.'

  'Humph, that is true; if we could only find him out.'

  He looked at her with a sidelong glance. Her face had taken a cadaveroushue, and her forehead seemed to shine as if bedewed with moisture. Hereyes, under their knitted eyebrows, were directed for the moment in fierceabstraction among the thickets of the gardens, so that he had ampleopportunity for observing her.

  'Such a fabrication, mischievous as it is, is too idle to cause youconcern, Plautia,' he said, breaking silence. 'I see it has troubled youas I dreaded; but, in my humble opinion, you consider it too much.'

  'Can I help, and I a woman?' she retorted fiercely; 'but I will be evenwith the coward.'

  'He must first be found; and I think the best plan would be to commencewith the individual with whom your name has been linked in such ashameless fashion.'

  'Do you think it is he?'

  'Nay, I cannot say. But as a beginning must be made somewhere in theinquiry, that is the point I should select. I don't see but what it is aslikely as any. He is tall, well-favoured, conceited, like all Pretorians,and more so, probably, since the Prefect makes much of him. He hasprobably told his comrades some such story, as a boast of his own superiorattractions. It is a weakness of the military nature, and of the gorgeousPretorian nature in particular, to be vain of a supposed fascination overfemales.'

  Plautia smiled disdainfully.

  'I had the opportunity of coming in contact with one of his conquests theother day,' continued Afer, 'a young girl with whom he is infatuated, theysay. One of the lower people only. The daughter of a potter in Surrentum,who has some sort of reputation for his work. Wishing for some specimensof his handicraft, as a memento of Surrentum, I went thither to purchase,and the girl herself attended on me in the shop. A tall, lithe, handsomegirl, undoubtedly, and with a manner altogether superior to that of herclass, however she came by it.'

  'And do you think it likely, with such a paragon as this under his sway,he would ever trouble himself to invent a lie concerning another?' saidPlautia.

  'Oh, in the most natural manner possible,' laughed Afer. 'You know notthese men. Victory does not appease them. They are insatiable after freshconquests, like Alexander.'

  'Indeed--is it possible?'

  She proceeded calmly to gather together the skirts of her garments; andbeyond the pallor of her face, the result of her great mental excitement,there was nothing unusual in her manner.

  'If I can help you in the matter, command me, Plautia,' said Afer.

  'I ask nothing save your profound silence--I will take the affair into myown hands.'

  'It will be well dealt with.'

  She bowed her head.

  'I suppose the Centurion is to be found somewhere in the vicinity of thevilla?'

  'He left yesterday for Rome on an errand for the Prefect.'

  'You appear to be very intimate with him and his movements,' remarkedPlautia drily.

  'The place is so small, and its events so few, that every one seems toknow everything that passes. As for his departure, I happened to be idlingon the Marina at the moment he took boat, so that there is no mystery inmy knowledge.'

  'No matter; he will return, I presume.'

  'Ah yes, for his sweetheart's sake as well as his commander's. It is amatter of jest how he invariably posts to Rome, when often he might savehimself and the Imperial horses the labour. For instance, what a finebreeze has been blowing these three days past--a fair wind which would havetaken a swift-sailing galley straight from the Marina to Ostia or Puteoliwithout the touch of an oar.'

  'Winds are apt to fail and change when least desired. He probably prefersthe surer method of travelling.'

  'Yes, but why?' said Afer, with a cunning smile, 'because his sweetheart'shome is but a few paces from the road to Rome, and thereby he gains theopportunity of seeing her for a few moments, going and coming--that is thereal reason.'

  'And an excellent one too, Afer. He shows his devotion as well as hissense. The woman ought to be proud of him,' she replied, with aperceptible sneer which filled the listener's heart with transport. 'Lestit be of use to me, you may as well tell me this girl's name.'

  'I do not know, I grieve to say, but it may be obtained. Her father iswell known, and lives on the further side of the town, close by the mainroad; he is a potter, as I have said.'

  'Surrentum, I understand, contains many of them. Have you not his name?'

  Afer considered for a few moments.

  'Ah, I know--it had almost slipped my memory. His name is Masthlion.'

  'Masthlion--good!' said Plautia; 'it may help or it may not. It is as wellto know it.'

  She turned and walked quickly toward the villa, and Afer attended her insilence up to the door of her apartments.

  'I have been the unwitting cause of bringing you great unpleasantness,' hesaid as he took leave; 'but you will admit that I was unwilling to relatewhat I did.'

  'I admit it. It was necessary for me to hear eventually--the sooner thebetter. I now perceive I gave way to my anger more than the occasionwarranted, but on a woman slander falls heavier than on a man. _Vale!_'

  She entered the room swiftly and shut the door, and the knight burst intoa laugh and strode off.

  'If I have not opened a Pandora's box in my own small way, I am mistaken.I am not to be treated as she treats that spiritless dog of a Martialis inRome--no, by Hercules!'