The Emperor ordered the Empress and Narses to follow him to his room.
When they reached it, he embraced his wife with great tenderness,
unembarrassed by the presence of a witness.
"How your enthusiasm rejoices and exalts me!" he exclaimed. "I am proud
of such a wife. How beautiful you were, O Theodora, in your noble
indignation. How can I reward you! Choose any favour, any sign of my
gratitude, my best and truest councillor and co-ruler?"
"If I, a weak woman, dare indeed believe that I may share your thoughts
and plans in this war, then confide in me, and tell me how you intend
to conduct it."
"I am resolved to send Belisarius again to Italy. But not alone. His
trifling with a crown has made me wary."
"Then I beg the favour of being allowed to propose a second
general.--Narses," she continued, before Justinian could speak, "will
you be the other?"
She wished to make it impossible for him to go.
"No, I thank you," Narses answered bitterly. "You know that I am a
stubborn and ill-tempered horse; I cannot endure to draw together with
another. A marshal's staff and a wife, Justinian, should be kept on the
same condition."
"How?"
"Alone, or not at all."
"Then _you_ not at all," answered Justinian with vexation. "You must not
imagine that you are indispensable, magister militum."
"No one on earth is so, Justinian. With all my heart! Send great
Belisarius again! He may try his luck for the third time in that
country, where laurels grow so thickly. My turn will come later. I am
no doubt unnecessary here as a witness of your domestic felicity, and
at home, opposite to my sickbed, stands a map of the Italian roads.
Allow me to continue my study of it. It is more interesting than the
map of our Persian frontier. One piece of advice. You will ultimately
be obliged to send Narses to Italy. The sooner you send him the more
you will spare yourself defeat, vexation, and money. And if gout or
that wretched epilepsy should carry Narses off before King Totila lies
upon his shield, who then will conquer Italy for you? You believe in
prophecy. In Italy there runs a saying: 'T beats B, N beats T.'"
"Does that mean, perhaps, that Theodora beat Belisarius, and Narses
beats Theodora?" asked the Empress mockingly.
"That is not _my_ interpretation of the riddle; it is yours. But I
accept it. Do you know which was the wisest of your many laws, O
Justinian?"
"Well?"
"That which made death the punishment of all accusations against the
Empress, for it was the only way in which you could keep her." And he
left the room.
"The insolent fellow!" cried Theodora, sending a venomous look after
him. "He dares to threaten! When Belisarius has once been rendered
harmless, Narses must quickly follow."
"But meanwhile we need them both," said Justinian. "Do you really
propose, as the second general to be sent to Italy, the man who
persuaded us to reject the proposals of Cassiodorus?"
"The same."
"But my distrust of that ambitious man has since then become stronger."
"Have you then forgotten," retorted Theodora, "who revealed the
intentions of Silverius? Who was the first to warn you of Belisarius's
dangerous game?"
"But he now frequents the company of the men who are conspiring against
me!"
"Yes; but, O Justinian, it is by my order, as their destroyer."
"Indeed! But if he is also deceiving you?"
"Will you believe him and me, and send him to Italy, if he brings the
conspirators to your feet in chains to-morrow, and amongst them their
unknown chief?"
"I already know who it is; it is Photius, the freedman of Belisarius."
"No, Justinian; it is he whom you would again send to Italy if I did
not warn you: Belisarius himself!"
The Emperor grew pale, and grasped the arm of his chair. "Will you now
believe in that wonderful Roman's devotion, and send him to Italy with
your army, instead of Belisarius?"
"Everything, everything!" said Justinian. "Belisarius, then, is really
a traitor! Then we must make haste! Let us act at once."
"I have already acted, Justinian. My net is cast, and no one can
escape. Give me full power to draw it close."
The Emperor nodded acquiescence.
And passing through the curtains, Theodora said to the door-keeper:
"Fetch Cethegus, the Prefect of Rome, from his house, and take him to
my room."