A Struggle for Rome, v. 3

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER IX.

  Soon after the Prefect had returned home, Syphax announced the son ofBoethius, who came from the Empress.

  "'Let him enter, and admit no one else until he has gone," saidCethegus. "Meanwhile send quickly for Piso, the tribune."

  And he rose to meet Anicius, who now entered the room.

  Anicius was no longer a youth, and his delicate features were muchimproved by the expression of resolution which at this moment restedupon them. He was dressed very simply, and his hair, which was usuallycurled, now hung straight down.

  "You remind me of your beautiful sister, Anicius."

  With these words the Prefect received his visitor.

  "It is on her account, Cethegus, that I come," said Anicius gravely."You are the oldest friend of my father and of our house. You hidSeverinus and me from our enemies, and assisted us to escape at yourown risk. You are the only man in Byzantium to whom I can appeal in amysterious affair. A few days ago I received this incomprehensibleletter, 'To the son of my patron; Corbulo the freedman----"

  "Corbulo? I know that name!"

  "He was the freedman of my father, with whom my mother and sister tookrefuge, and who----"

  "Fell before Rome with your brother!"

  "Yes. But he only died after being carried into the Gothic encampment,for he was taken prisoner, together with my dying brother, in thevillage _ad aras Bacchi_. So I am told by one of Belisarius'smercenaries called Sutas, who was taken prisoner at the same time, Andwho has now brought me the letter which Corbulo could not finish. Readit for yourself."

  Cethegus took the small wax tablet with its scarcely legible writingand read:

  "'The legacy of your dying brother, and his last words were: Aniciusmust revenge our mother, our sister, and myself. It was the same enemyof our house, the same demon who----'"

  "The letter ends here," said Cethegus.

  "Yes. Corbulo lost his senses and never again became conscious, themercenary said."

  "There is not much to be made of this," observed Cethegus, shrugginghis shoulders.

  "No; but the mercenary Sutas--they were all in the same tent--heard afew words spoken by my dying brother to Corbulo, which may give us thekey to the letter."

  "Well?" asked Cethegus, with concealed anxiety.

  "Severinus said: 'I suspect it. He knew of the ambush--he sent us tomeet certain death.'"

  "Who?" asked Cethegus quietly.

  "That is just what I want to find out."

  "You have no suspicion?"

  "No; but it cannot be impossible to discover the man who is meant."

  "How will you manage it?"

  "'Sent us to meet certain death,' that can only mean some leader orgeneral who was the cause of my brother's sharing that fatal morningride out of the Tiburtinian Gate. For Severinus did not at that timebelong to the suite of Belisarius. He was a tribune of your legions. Ifyou, Belisarius, and Procopius will earnestly try to find out the manwho sent Severinus with Belisarius, you must succeed. For he did not gowith other legionaries--none of your legionaries or horsemenaccompanied Belisarius."

  "As far as I recollect," said Cethegus, "you are right."

  "Not one," repeated Anicius. "Procopius--unfortunately he has gone toexamine the buildings which Justinian has erected in Asia--was present,and has often told me the names of all who were with him. When hereturns, I will make a careful inquiry of what my brother did justbefore the sally. Into whose house or tent he went--I will not rest, Iwill ask all the still living comrades of Severinus where they saw himlast before he rode out."

  "You are very acute for your years," said the Prefect with a strangesmile. "What will you be when you are arrived at maturity? Butcertainly you are in a good school. Does the Empress know of thisletter?"

  "No. And she shall never hear of it. Do not name her to me! This dutyof revenge has been sent by God to tear me away from her!"

  "But she sent you to me?"

  "In another affair, which, however, shall end very differently to whatshe intends. A few hours ago she sent for me, and asked me once againif it was so very terrible to be kept in a golden cage. But the womandisgusts me. And I heartily regret the months that I have wasted at herside, while my brother fought and fell for the fatherland. I gave hersuch a rude answer, that I expected a storm. But, to my astonishment,she was perfectly quiet, and said, smiling, 'Be it so. No faithfulnesslasts long. Go to Antonina, or to Virtue, or to both goddesses. But, asa last sign of my favour, I will save you from certain destruction.There exists in Byzantium a conspiracy against the life or free will ofJustinian. Be quiet--I know it. I know also that you are already halfwon; that you have not yet gone to any of their meetings, but that youhave the documents of the conspiracy in your keeping. I have allowedthem to do as they liked, because there are some of my old enemiesamongst them, whom I wish to ruin. In a few days they will besurprised. But I will warn and save you. Go to the Prefect. He musttake you with him away from Byzantium. Tell him that you are in danger,and that Theodora sends you. But say nothing to him of the conspiracy.There are some of his tribunes concerned in it, whom he would gladlysave, but whom I will destroy.' All this she said to me, and I came,but not to fly! I came to warn you and my Roman comrades. I shall alsogo to the meeting--there is no danger for to-day, the Empress said--andwarn them all. I shall tell them that the conspiracy is discovered. Youmust not be there, Prefect; you must not place yourself in any furtherdanger. Justinian already suspects you. The foolish youths wish to waituntil they have won Belisarius to their cause! And if they are notwarned they will most likely be all taken prisoners to-morrow. I shallhasten to tell them of their danger. But, that done, I will not rest amoment until I have discovered the murderer of my brother."

  "Both intentions are highly praiseworthy," said Cethegus. "But, by theway, where do you hide the papers of the conspirators?"

  "Where I hide all secrets," said Anicius, blushing--"secrets andletters that are sacred and dear to me; where I will also hide thistablet. You shall know the spot, for you, the oldest friend of myhouse, must help me to complete my task of vengeance. I have writtenout Sutas's report of the scarcely-comprehensible conversation of thetwo dying men. They spoke of 'poisoning'--of 'murderous order'--of an'accusation before the senate'--therefore our enemy must be a Romansenator--of a 'crimson crest'-of a 'black devil of a horse----'"

  "Et cetera, et cetera," said Cethegus, interrupting him. "Where is yourhiding-place? It may be that you will have to escape in a hurry--for Istrongly advise you not to trust the Empress--and perhaps you would noteven be able to reach your house."

  "And besides," added Anicius, "it is necessary that you take up mywork. I should in any case have told you of the hiding-place. It is inthe cistern in the court of my house--the third brick to the right ofthe wheel is hollow. And you must know for another reason," heconcluded gloomily. "If it is not possible to save my friends, if myown freedom is in danger--for you are right in your warning: I havelong since remarked that I am followed by the spies of the Emperor orEmpress--then I will quickly make a bloody end to it all. What matterif I die, if I cannot fulfil the duty which Severinus has imposed uponme? Then--it is my office to tell the Emperor every morning how theEmpress has passed the night--then--I will strike the tyrant in themidst of his slaves!"

  "Madman!" cried Cethegus, in real terror--for he _now_ wished to keepJustinian alive and in power--"to what has remorse and a planless anddissolute life brought you? No! the son of Boethius must not end as amurderer. If you wish to atone in blood for your inglorious past--thenfight with my legions! Purify yourself in the blood of the barbarians,shed, not by the dagger of the murderer, but by the sword of the hero!"

  "You speak nobly, Cethegus. And will you really place _me_, untried andwithout fame, amongst your brave knights? How can I thank you!"

  "Spare your thanks until all is ended--until we meet again. Meanwhilewarn the conspirators. That alone will be a proof of courage. For, asit seems you are followed, I th
ink it a dangerous task. If you shun thedanger, say so frankly."

  "_I_ hesitate to give the first proof of my courage! I would go andwarn them, even if certain death were the consequence."

  He pressed the Prefect's hand, and hurried away.

  As soon as he was gone, Syphax brought in the tribune Piso throughanother door.

  "Master of Iambics," cried Cethegus, "you must now be as quick-footedas your verses! Enough of conspiracy and creeping here in Byzantium!You must immediately seek all the young Romans who frequent the houseof Photius. The setting sun must find none of you within those walls.Your lives depend upon it. No one must go to the 'evening feast' atPhotius's house. Go hunting, singly or in groups; make boat-races onthe Bosphorus; only hurry away. The conspiracy is superfluous. Thesound of the trumpet will soon summon you to battle against thebarbarians in Latium. Away with you all! Wait for me at Epidamnus.Thence, with my Isaurians, I will fetch you to the third fight forRome. Away!--Syphax," he said, when left alone with his slave, "haveyou inquired at the great general's house? When is he expected back?"

  "At sunset."

  "Is his faithful wife at home? Good. Bring a litter--not mine--bringthe first you find at the Hippodrome. The blinds must shut closely.Take it to the harbour, into the back street of the slop-dealers."

  "Sir, the worst rabble of this city of vagabonds dwell in that street.What will you do there?"

  "I will there enter the litter, and then go to the Red House."