The Roman Traitor, Vol. 2
Page 10
CHAPTER X.
THE ARREST.
Rebellious subjects; Enemies of peace. ROMEO AND JULIET.
It was already daylight, when the loud clang and clatter of a squadronpassing along the streets, at a sharp trot, aroused the citizens of Romefrom their beds, for though the morning had broke, it was still veryearly.
Many a lattice was opened, and many a head thrust out, as the troopersswept along with all their accoutrements jingling and clashing through theearly silence, a spectacle which in ordinary times, would have excitedmuch astonishment, perhaps aroused a tumult, since it was in directopposition to the laws, that armed soldiers should enter the city walls intime of peace.
But so much had the public mind been disturbed of late, that the sight,which a month before would have filled the streets with anxious or angrymultitudes, now hardly seemed to merit a second glance, and the spectatorshurried back to their couches, invoking the aid of the good Consul, whowatched so well over the liberties and lives of Rome, or muttering curseson his head, according as they were well or ill-afflicted toward thestate.
One man there was, however, who was awakened by the clatter from the deepsleep of drunkenness, with a flushed face and an aching head, in a houseon the Clivus Scauri, a steep street running down the southern slope ofthe Palatine, into the Cerolian Place, and overlooking the mansion ofCicero.
Starting up from his low couch, he called out sharply and with a querulousaccent to a freedman, who was watching his feverish slumbers, desiring himto look out and see what made that clatter.
The man passed quickly into an adjoining room which commanded a view ofthe street, and returned instantly, saying,
"It is a squadron of horse, Cæparius. Young Arvina’s, I think; and theyappear to be conducting a prisoner, for there is one man among them, inhis tunic and abolla only, while the troopers around him have their swordsdrawn."
Sobered at once, the conspirator leaped from his couch, and almostoverthrew the attendant, in his eagerness to reach the window in time toobserve the troopers.
They were just halting in the Cerolian place, when he saw them, anddismounting, chargers and men in a confused and dusty group before thedoor of Cicero.
He gazed, as if his eyes would burst from their sockets, if possibly hemight distinguish the wearer of the rich blue riding cloak, of which hecould catch glimpses among the glittering corslets and scarlet cassocks ofthe legionary horse. But for a while he gazed in vain.
At length two figures mounted the marble steps, leading to the Tuscancolonnade, and were thus brought clearly into view, above the crestedcasques of the soldiery.
One, a tall well-made figure, splendidly accoutred in the cavalry armor ofthe day, he recognized at once for Arvina, and in the stouter person, cladin the blue abolla, the color of which he had already connected with onewhom he knew—his worst fears all realized—he discovered the messenger oftreason, Titus Volturcius of Crotona.
"By the Gods! all is lost," he muttered, striking his hand violently onhis thigh. "Escape alone, is left to us. Ha!" he continued, addressing hisfreedman, "I will arise, and go forth speedily. Give me my tunic. So—nevermind the feminalia; there, clasp my sandals! Death and furies! how slowthou art, now my dagger, and my toga. Hark, now. I go to the house ofLentulus. See thou, and have my chariot harnessed for a journey, with thefour Thracian steeds; put into it my armor, a sword, casque and bucklerfor thyself; and all the gold which is locked in the great chest in theAtrium. Here is the key. Tarry not for thy life, and bring the car thyselfto the arch of Fabius Allobrox; wait there until I come to thee. I will bethere within the hour."
"It shall be done, Cæparius."
"See that it _be_ done, if thou wouldst scape the scourge!" and with theword he rushed out of the chamber, as if the avenger of blood were at hisheels.
But the freedman looked after him, with a bitter and scornful smile, andmuttered—
"The scourge!—the scourge! and I a freedman! This is another friend of thepeople. His villanies, I fancy, are near upon detection, and he would flyto join Catiline, but I will thwart him."
In the meantime, quitting his own house in great trepidation, theconspirator walked very rapidly through the streets, until he reached thehouse of Lentulus, which was not far distant from the forum.
He was admitted instantly, and without question, for all the slaves knewhim, as the intimate friend of their master; but at the bed room door, hewas stopped by the favorite freedman of Lentulus, who urged that his lordhad not retired till morning, and had desired that he should not bedisturbed earlier than noon.
Cæparius, on the other hand insisted, raising his voice so loudly that thesleeper was awakened, and recognizing the accent of his friend, cried outpeevishly—
"Oh! let him in, Agathon; let him in quickly, or he will talk thee deaf,and me frantic! What in the name of Proserpine and Pluto! is it now?"
"The plot is discovered! all is lost!" exclaimed the other, forgetting allprudence in the haste and terror of the moment.
"To the abyss of Tartarus with the plot, and thee also!" replied the othersavagely. "I hope it _is_ discovered, for I shall get some sleep then. Ihave had none these six months."
And turning on his other side, he drew the embroidered coverlid over hishead, and appeared to court the interrupted slumber.
"By all Gods! I tell thee, Lentulus, Volturcius is arrested. These eyesbeheld him dragged into the house of Cicero. My chariot waits me now, atthe arch of Fabius. I go to join Catiline."
"I prithee, then, go quickly—thou torturest me, man, I say. Get thee gone!get thee gone! Better to die, than to live thus sleepless."
"Whom the Gods wish to ruin, they first dementate!" exclaimedCæparius—"thou wilt be seized, within the hour."
"I care not. So that till then I can sleep; once more, I say—Begone!"
Cæparius shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head as he left the room;and then made the best of his way to the arch of Fabius; but he found nothis chariot there, not though he waited well nigh two hours, did it arriveat all.
Hopeless at length, and desperate, he set forth alone and on foot, in thevain hope of escaping the pursuit of Cicero’s unerring justice.
Meanwhile, disturbed more than he would admit by Cæparius’ tidings,Lentulus did, in some sort, arouse himself to consideration.
"It may be so," he said to himself. "Cæparius declared he saw him. If itbe so, ’twere better perhaps, indeed, to leave the city. And yet," hecontinued pondering deeply, "to fly is to admit guilt, and it is too late,moreover. Tush! tush! I daresay, it is but Cæparius’ terror—he was a foolalways, and I believe a coward also. Beside, if it be true, there is noproof; and what dare Cicero against me—against me, a Consular of Rome?—Atthe worst, he will implore me to deliver the city of my presence, as hedid Catiline. Ha! Ha! I will to sleep again. Yet stay, I am athirst, afterSempronia’s revel! Fool, that I was, not to drink more last night, andquench this fiery craving. Ho! Agathon, my boy, fetch me the great goblet,the double(9) sextarius, of spiced mulse with a snow-water."
This order was obeyed instantly, and after draining the huge beaker to thebottom, the indolent and reckless traitor, rolled himself over, and wasasleep again as soundly in five minutes, as if he were not in truthslumbering upon the brink of a volcano.
Not long however did he sleep in peace, for Cæparius had scarcely beengone an hour, when he was again startled from his doze, by a knocking soviolent, at the outer door, that the whole house reëchoed with the din.
He heard the doors opened, and a short angry parle, broken short by theraised voice of the new comers, and the clanging of armed footsteps, alongthe marble corridor which led toward his chamber.
A moment afterward, pale as death, with his hair starting and a wild eye,Agathon entered the room.
"How now?" exclaimed Lentulus, who fully aroused by this time, was sittingon the edge of the low bedstead, with a purple gown cast carelessly aroundhim, "what is this new disturbance."
"Well! hast thou never seen a soldier before, that thou starest sowildly?" asked his master with a sneer, which even the extremity of dangercould not restrain.
"Their leader insists on present speech with thee. I told him that thouwert asleep; but he replied that, waking or asleep, he must have speechwith thee."
"Truly a valiant leader," answered the Prætor. "Hath he a name, this boldcenturion?"
"Paullus Cæcilius Arvina," replied the young man, who having followed thefreedman to the door had overheard all that was passing, "is my name—nocenturion, as thou mayest see, Lentulus. Loth am I to disturb thyslumbers."
"Then wherefore do it, youth?" asked Lentulus, quickly. "Most brokenthings may be repaired, but I know not how you shall mend a broken nap, orrecompense the loss of it, if irreparable."
"Not of my own will, but by the Consul’s order."
"The Consul’s? What? Antonius? He scarce need have sent a troop of horse,to ask an old friend to breakfast!"
"Cicero sent me, Prætor, to crave your instant presence at his house,touching affairs of state."
"Ha! Cicero!" said he, affecting to be much surprised. "Cicero scarcely ison such terms with me, as to take such a liberty, waking me thus at thedead of night."
"It is well nigh the fourth hour, Lentulus."
"What if it be, an I choose to call it midnight? and what, if I refuse toobey such unceremonious bidding?"
"In that case, Lentulus, my orders are to compel your attendance. I havetwo decuries of men in your Atrium. But I trust that you will drive me tono such necessity."
"Two decuries!" replied Lentulus scornfully. "I have but to lift my littlefinger, and my freedmen and slaves would kick your decuries, and yourselfafter them into the velabrum."
The blood mounted to the brow of the young soldier. "I have endured," hesaid, "something too much of this. Will you go with us peacefully,Lentulus, or will you force us to take you through the street like afelon?"
"Oh! peacefully, Arvina, peacefully. I did but jest with you, my hero. ButI knew not that the cavalry of the seventh legion—the legion of Mars Ithink they call it—had become so degraded, as to do the work ofthieftakers."
"Nor I, Lentulus," answered Paul. "But you should know best in thismatter. If it be theft for which thou art summoned before Cicero, then arewe indeed thieftakers. But if so, not only I believe should we be thefirst legionaries of Rome so employed, but thou the first Roman Consularso guilty."
"So proud! ha!" exclaimed the haughty conspirator, gazing at him with acurled lip and flashing eye. "Well, I could quell that pride in onemoment, with _one_ word."
"Even so proud, because honest" answered the young man, as haughtily asthe other. "For the rest, will you clothe yourself at once?—I can waitbabbling here no longer."
"I _will_ quell it. Look you, boy, you love Julia, the bright daughter ofHortensia—she is worth loving, by the way, and Catiline hath noted it. Youfancy that she is safe now, at the Latin villa of her mother. She is notsafe—nor at the Latin villa! I have touched you, have I not?"
Arvina started, as if a serpent had bitten him; but in a moment herecovered himself, saying calmly, "Tush! it is a poor deceit! you cannotalarm me."
"In truth it was a deceit, but not so very poor after all, since itsucceeded. You were sorely wounded a few days since, Arvina, and wrote, Ithink, to Julia, requesting her to set forth at once to Rome, withHortensia."
"Folly!" replied Arvina, "Drivelling folly! Come, hasten your dressing,Lentulus! You need not perfume your hair, and curl your beard, as if youwere going to a banquet."
"I never hasten anything, my Paullus. Things done hastily, are rarelythings done well. What? thou dids’t not write such a letter?—I thoughtthou hadst—of this at least I am sure, that she received such an one; andset out for Rome, within an hour after."
"By the Gods!" exclaimed Paullus, a little eagerly, for Lentulus hadchanged the slight bantering tone in which he had been speaking, for aquick short decided accent seeming to denote that he was in earnest."Where is she now. Speak, Lentulus, I adjure thee. Tell me, if thouwouldst have me serve thee!"
"I thought I could abate that pride somewhat," said Lentulus sneeringly."I thought so indeed. But, by all the Gods! Arvina, I know not where yourJulia may be _now_. I know whither they are conveying her—where she soonwill be—but I fancy that the knowing it, would give you but littlepleasure; unless, indeed, you could prevent it, my poor youth!"
"To know, is something at least toward preventing it. If, therefore, thouart not, as I believe indeed thou art, merely mocking me, I pray thee tellme, whither are they conveying her? Where will she soon be?"
"To the camp of Manlius, nigh Fiesolè! In the arms of one Lucius SergiusCatiline—a great admirer of your auburn-haired, blue-eyed beauties, myArvina."
The young man, with his eyes gleaming and his face crimsoning with furiousrage, made two steps forward, and seizing the burly traitor by the throat,compressed his gullet, as if in an iron vice, and shook him to and fro aseasily as if he had been a stripling.
"Shame on thee, filth and carrion that thou art, so to speak of abetrothed bride to her promised husband! If it were true, wretchedvillain! I would save the hangman his task, and break your traitor’sthroat with this hand—but thou liest! thou liest!" he shouted, pushing himto the other end of the narrow sleeping chamber. "In poor revenge thouliest! But if you wish to live, beware how you so lie any more!"
"I do not lie indeed, my dear Arvina," replied the other in a blandfawning voice full of mock humility. "But, I prithee, boy, keep thy handsfrom my throat in future, unless thou wouldst desire to know how acrook-bladed sica some sixteen inches long feels in the region of thyheart. Such an one as this, Arvina," he added, showing a long keen weaponnot unlike a Turkish yatagan in shape, which he drew from beneath hispillow. Then casting it aside, with a contemptuous gesture, hecontinued—"But this is mere child’s play. Now mark me. I did not lie, nordo! Aulus Fulvius wrote the letter—Aulus Fulvius’ slave carried it,yester-even—Aulus Fulvius beset the road by which they must come—AulusFulvius is ere this time on his road many a league conveying her toCatiline—and this," he said, putting a small slip of parchment into thehands of the astonished Paullus, "is Aulus Fulvius’ handwriting. Yes!certainly, that is his S in the word Salutem. He affects ever the Greeksigma in his writing. He is a very pretty penman, Aulus Fulvius!"
The strip of parchment bore these words:
"Whom I am you will know by the matter. The camp in Etruria will receivethe dove from the Latin villa. All hath succeeded—health!"
"I found it on my desk, when I returned from supper this morning. Aulus’sslave brought it hither. He is within, if thou wouldst speak him."
Arvina staggered back like a man who has received a mortal stab, as heread those fatal words; and stared about him with a wild and wanderingeye.
It was a moment or two before he could find any speech, and when he didspeak at length, it was in tones so altered and broken that his nearestfriend would not have recognized his voice.
"Wherefore"—he gasped—"Wherefore have you done this to me."
"For vengeance!" thundered the proud conspirator, casting hiscrimson-bordered toga over his laticlavian tunic. "For vengeance, boy.Lead on—lead on to your consul."
"In what have I wronged you?" cried Arvina, in a paroxysm of almostunspeakable despair. "In what, that you should take such infernalvengeance?"
"For Julia’s love thou didst betray Catiline! betray _us_! In Julia’sinfamy thou shalt be punished!"
"Anything! anything! anything but this—strike here, strike here with thatsica, thou didst unsheath but now. Slay me, by inches if thou wilt—butspare her, oh! by your mother’s memory! oh! by your sister’s honor! spareher, and I will—"
"Lead on! To your consul!" exclaimed Lentulus waving his hand proudly tothe door. "I can but die—the Gods be thanked for it! Thy life is bitte
rerthan many deaths already! I say, coward and fool, lead on! Where is thyboasted pride? In the dust! at my feet! I trample, I spit on it! onceagain to your consul!"
"And thou couldst save her!"
"By a word! At a hint from me Fulvius will set her free."
"But that word? but that hint?—"
"My lips shall never utter—my hand indite; unless—"
"Unless? unless what?—speak! speak, Lentulus. By the Gods! By your head!By your life! speak."
"Place me beyond the walls of Rome, with twenty of my freedmen, armed andmounted—it can be done on the instant; they are here; they are ready!—andJulia shall be in thy bosom ere to-morrow’s sun shall sink behind thehills of Latium!"
"A Traitor to my country! Lentulus, never!"
"Tush! boy! think upon beautiful, soft, weeping, _innocent_ Julia rescuedby thee from Catiline—from pollution—think on her gratitude, her love, herkiss! Think on a life, a whole long life, of rapture!—and then balanceagainst it one small foolish word—"
"Dishonor!" Arvina interrupted him fiercely.
"Aye! to which thou consignest Julia, whom thou _lovest_! Kind Venus guardme from such lovers!"
"Dishonor never can come nigh her," replied Arvina, who had recovered hissenses completely, and who, though unutterably wretched, was now as firmand as cold as marble. "Death it may be, but not dishonor!"
"Be it so," answered Lentulus. "We will leave her the option of the two,but believe me, when dishonor is pleasant, women rarely choose death inpreference to it. You have had your option too, my Arvina. But I, itseems, can have none, but must wait upon your consul."
"You have the same which you give Julia!" answered Paullus, sternly."There is your dagger, and your heart here!" he added, laying his hand onthe broad breast of the infamous Patrician.
"True! count its pulses—cooler, I think, and more regular than thine,Paullus. Tush! man! I know a hundred wiser things and pleasanter thandying. But once more, lead on! I will speak no word again till I speak tothe consul!"
And without farther words he strode to the door, followed closely by theyoung soldier, resolute and determined to perform his duty, let what mightcome of it! He passed through his marble peristyles, looked with a cooleye on his flowery parterres and sparkling fountains, nodded a carelessadieu to his slaves and freedmen, and entered the Atrium where Arvina’stroopers awaited him, wondering and impatient at the long delay.
With a proud gesture he waved his hand toward the door, and six of thenumber marched forward, three and three, while the rest falling intoregular array behind him, escorted him with all respect, but with sternwatchfulness, along the Via Sacra to the Carinæ.
Quickly arriving at the Atrium of Cicero’s house, which was filled withhis friends and clients all in arms, and with many knights and patricians,whom he knew, but no one of whom saluted or seemed to recognize him, hewas admitted into the Tablinum, or saloon, at the doors of which sixlictors were on guard with their fasces.
On entering this small but sumptuous chamber he found assembled therealready, Cethegus, Statilius, and Gabinius, silent, with white lips, in anagony of terror worse than death.
"Ha! my friends!" he exclaimed, with an unaltered mien and voice, "We aremet once again. But we seem not, by all the Gods! to be well pleased withthe meeting. Why so downcast, Cethegus?"
"Because on earth it is our last meeting," he replied. And it was clear tosee that the boldest and fiercest, and most furious of the band, whiledanger was afar, was the most utterly appalled now, when fate appearedimminent and certain.
"Why, then!" answered Lentulus, "we shall meet in Hell, Cethegus."
"By the Gods! jest not so foully—"
"Wherefore not, I prithee? If that this be our last meeting, good faith!let it be a merry one! I know not, for my part, what ails ye all."
"Are you mad? or know you not that Volturcius is a prisoner, and ourletters in the hands of the consul? They will kill us ere noon."
"Then they must make haste, Caius. It is noon already. But, cheer thee up,be not so much afraid, my brave Cethegus—they dare not slay us."
"Dare not?"
"For their own lives, they dare not!" But as he spoke, raising his voiceto its highest pitch, the curtains which closed the other end of theTablinum were suddenly drawn back, and Cicero appeared, clad in hisconsular robes, and with his ivory staff in his hand. Antonius hiscolleague stood in the intercolumniation, with all the lictors at hisback, and many knights in their appropriate tunics, but with militarycloaks above them in place of the peaceful toga, and with their swordsgirded by their sides.
"Prætor," said Cicero in a dignified but serene voice, with no show oftaunting or of triumph over his fallen enemy. "The Senate is assembled inthe temple of Concord. The Fathers wait but for your coming. Give me yourhand that I may conduct you thither."
"My hand, consul? Not as a friend’s, I trust," said the undaunted Traitor.
"As a magistrate’s, Cornelius Lentulus," replied Cicero severely, "whosehand, even if guilty, may not be polluted by an inferior’s grasp."
"As a magistrate’s you have it, consul. We go?"
"To the shrine of Concord! Antonius, my noble colleague, let us begone.Senators, follow us; escape you cannot, if you would; and I would spareyou the disgrace of chains."
"We follow, Cicero," answered Cethegus in a hollow voice, and casting hiseyes with a wild and haggard expression on Gabinius, he added in awhisper, "to our death!"
"Be it so!" replied the other. "One can but die once; and if his time become, as well now as hereafter. I fear not death now, when I see it faceto face. I think, I have heard thee say the same."
"He spoke," answered Statilius, with a bitter and sarcastic laugh, "of thedeath of others then. Would God, he _then_ had met his own! So should we_now_ have been innocent and fearless!"
"I at least, if not innocent, _am_ fearless."
And watched on every side by the knights, and followed by the lictors, twobehind each, the ringleaders of the plot, all save Cæparius who had fled,and Catiline—who was in open arms, an outlaw and proclaimed enemy of hiscountry—the ringleaders were led away to trial.
The fate of Rome hung on the firmness of their judges.