Soon after the Prefect had returned home, Syphax announced the son of
Boethius, who came from the Empress.
"'Let him enter, and admit no one else until he has gone," said
Cethegus. "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 much
improved by the expression of resolution which at this moment rested
upon them. He was dressed very simply, and his hair, which was usually
curled, 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 hid
Severinus and me from our enemies, and assisted us to escape at your
own risk. You are the only man in Byzantium to whom I can appeal in a
mysterious affair. A few days ago I received this incomprehensible
letter, '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 took
refuge, 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 the
village _ad aras Bacchi_. So I am told by one of Belisarius's
mercenaries called Sutas, who was taken prisoner at the same time, And
who has now brought me the letter which Corbulo could not finish. Read
it for yourself."
Cethegus took the small wax tablet with its scarcely legible writing
and read:
"'The legacy of your dying brother, and his last words were: Anicius
must revenge our mother, our sister, and myself. It was the same enemy
of our house, the same demon who----'"
"The letter ends here," said Cethegus.
"Yes. Corbulo lost his senses and never again became conscious, the
mercenary said."
"There is not much to be made of this," observed Cethegus, shrugging
his shoulders.
"No; but the mercenary Sutas--they were all in the same tent--heard a
few words spoken by my dying brother to Corbulo, which may give us the
key to the letter."
"Well?" asked Cethegus, with concealed anxiety.
"Severinus said: 'I suspect it. He knew of the ambush--he sent us to
meet 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 or
general who was the cause of my brother's sharing that fatal morning
ride out of the Tiburtinian Gate. For Severinus did not at that time
belong to the suite of Belisarius. He was a tribune of your legions. If
you, Belisarius, and Procopius will earnestly try to find out the man
who sent Severinus with Belisarius, you must succeed. For he did not go
with other legionaries--none of your legionaries or horsemen
accompanied Belisarius."
"As far as I recollect," said Cethegus, "you are right."
"Not one," repeated Anicius. "Procopius--unfortunately he has gone to
examine the buildings which Justinian has erected in Asia--was present,
and has often told me the names of all who were with him. When he
returns, I will make a careful inquiry of what my brother did just
before the sally. Into whose house or tent he went--I will not rest, I
will ask all the still living comrades of Severinus where they saw him
last before he rode out."
"You are very acute for your years," said the Prefect with a strange
smile. "What will you be when you are arrived at maturity? But
certainly you are in a good school. Does the Empress know of this
letter?"
"No. And she shall never hear of it. Do not name her to me! This duty
of 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 what
she intends. A few hours ago she sent for me, and asked me once again
if it was so very terrible to be kept in a golden cage. But the woman
disgusts me. And I heartily regret the months that I have wasted at her
side, while my brother fought and fell for the fatherland. I gave her
such a rude answer, that I expected a storm. But, to my astonishment,
she was perfectly quiet, and said, smiling, 'Be it so. No faithfulness
lasts long. Go to Antonina, or to Virtue, or to both goddesses. But, as
a last sign of my favour, I will save you from certain destruction.
There exists in Byzantium a conspiracy against the life or free will of
Justinian. Be quiet--I know it. I know also that you are already half
won; that you have not yet gone to any of their meetings, but that you
have the documents of the conspiracy in your keeping. I have allowed
them to do as they liked, because there are some of my old enemies
amongst them, whom I wish to ruin. In a few days they will be
surprised. But I will warn and save you. Go to the Prefect. He must
take 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 gladly
save, 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 also
go to the meeting--there is no danger for to-day, the Empress said--and
warn them all. I shall tell them that the conspiracy is discovered. You
must not be there, Prefect; you must not place yourself in any further
danger. Justinian already suspects you. The foolish youths wish to wait
until they have won Belisarius to their cause! And if they are not
warned they will most likely be all taken prisoners to-morrow. I shall
hasten to tell them of their danger. But, that done, I will not rest a
moment until I have discovered the murderer of my brother."
"Both intentions are highly praiseworthy," said Cethegus. "But, by the
way, where do you hide the papers of the conspirators?"
"Where I hide all secrets," said Anicius, blushing--"secrets and
letters that are sacred and dear to me; where I will also hide this
tablet. You shall know the spot, for you, the oldest friend of my
house, must help me to complete my task of vengeance. I have written
out Sutas's report of the scarcely-comprehensible conversation of the
two dying men. They spoke of 'poisoning'--of 'murderous order'--of an
'accusation before the senate'--therefore our enemy must be a Roman
senator--of a 'crimson crest'-of a 'black devil of a horse----'"
"Et cetera, et cetera," said Cethegus, interrupting him. "Where is your
hiding-place? It may be that you will have to escape in a hurry--for I
strongly advise you not to trust the Empress--and perhaps you would not
even be able to reach your house."
"And besides," added Anicius, "it is necessary that you take up my
work. I should in any case have told you of the hiding-place. It is in
the cistern in the court of my house--the third brick to the right of
the wheel is hollow. And you must know for another reason," he
concluded gloomily. "If it is not possible to save my friends, if my
own freedom is in danger--for you are right in your warning: I have
long since remarked that I am followed by the spies of the Emperor or
Empress--then I will quickly make a bloody end to it all. What matter
if I die, if I cannot fulfil the duty which Severinus has imposed upon
me? Then--it is my office to tell the Emperor every morning how the
Empress has passed the night--then--I will strike the tyrant in the
midst of his slaves!"
"Madman!" cried Cethegus, in real terror--for he _now_ wished to keep
Justinian alive and in power--"to what has remorse and a planless and
dissolute life brought you? No! the son of Boethius must not end as a
murderer. If you wish to atone in blood for your inglorious past--then
fight 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 and
without fame, amongst your brave knights? How can I thank you!"
"Spare your thanks until all is ended--until we meet again. Meanwhile
warn the conspirators. That alone will be a proof of courage. For, as
it seems you are followed, I think it a dangerous task. If you shun the
danger, say so frankly."
"_I_ hesitate to give the first proof of my courage! I would go and
warn 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 through
another door.
"Master of Iambics," cried Cethegus, "you must now be as quick-footed
as your verses! Enough of conspiracy and creeping here in Byzantium!
You must immediately seek all the young Romans who frequent the house
of 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' at
Photius's house. Go hunting, singly or in groups; make boat-races on
the Bosphorus; only hurry away. The conspiracy is superfluous. The
sound of the trumpet will soon summon you to battle against the
barbarians in Latium. Away with you all! Wait for me at Epidamnus.
Thence, with my Isaurians, I will fetch you to the third fight for
Rome. Away!--Syphax," he said, when left alone with his slave, "have
you 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--bring
the 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."