CHAPTER XVIII.
The sudden reappearance of Eurymachus had been extremely agitating tothe steward. Satisfaction, alarm, hatred and surprise, struggled inhis mind for the upper-hand. He at once gave up all idea of going tothe Amphitheatre, and, with his own hand he locked the slave, heavilyfettered, into the remotest and securest hiding-place in his house. Hewas devoured by a feverish anxiety to know what Lycoris could have tosay in the matter, and, having neglected, in his surprise, to questionthe two men-at-arms, he supposed the accidental meeting to have beenplanned beforehand, and thought that it was Lycoris, who had herselfrecognized the escaped slave and given him in charge. The whole day hetormented himself with trying to guess how it had all happened, and inhis morbid restlessness he did nothing but walk about from one roomto another. At last, as the supper-hour drew near, he began to wonderwhether it would not be better to put the man, whose existence wasa standing threat to him, out of the world at once, without waitingfor the Massilian's arrival. In pursuance of this idea he opened acase of weapons and took out a dagger. He slowly polished the keenblade, which had been the costly gift of a Parthian chief, whom he hadbeen able to oblige. One blow with this blue, gleaming steel, and theincubus would be removed for ever.
He set his lips firmly; the idea gained ground as he thought it over.As a persecuted slave, who must have lived in the fear of being atany moment recognized and seized, Eurymachus could hardly, up to thepresent hour, have revealed the secret that incriminated his master, toany one but his fellow Nazarenes and accomplices; and they, under theban of the law and threatened with the same punishment as himself, hadthe most urgent reasons for keeping it and themselves dark. But what ifEurymachus, even now, were to find an opportunity?--Perhaps even themen who had taken him?--But no; such sharp practitioners would havetaken advantage of it ere this, in the hope of extracting a splendidbribe. But Lycoris? some bold hint from the wretch might have betrayedthe secret to her, and then Stephanus would be as completely at themercy of this woman, as she had, ere this, been at his. For she hatedhim--on that point he had no doubt whatever. And if she wished to seethe slave, on what valid pretence could he, Stephanus, refuse.
He slipped the dagger into its sheath again and hid it in his tunic;then he called a slave and desired him to light a hand-lamp. This hetook in his left-hand, and went to the room where Eurymachus lay,half-stunned as it seemed, on the stone floor.
"At last I have you in my power," muttered the steward, setting thelamp down on the ledge. "And this time, by the gods, you do not escapeme!"
Eurymachus did not reply; he looked up with dull indifference.
"Where have you been hiding yourself this last half-year?" Stephanuswent on. "Will you speak, or shall I loosen your tongue by the help ofthis dagger?"
He drew out the weapon and stepped forward. The slave raised his headwith a melancholy smile.
"I understand," he said, "you have come to finish your work. You areafraid of me. After suffering so long from the misery of terror, youwant to make away with the witness of your crime. But you are mistaken.That dreaded secret will not die with me. Cneius Afranius knows it, andsooner or later he will make himself heard. But kill me all the same.For me death can hardly hold more terrors than life."
Stephanus had dropped his arms by his side; a flash of implacablehatred glared in his eyes.
"Wretch! you dared.... But you triumph too soon; Afranius is an exile,banned as a traitor...."
"By Caesar," added Eurymachus. "But even Caesars are mortal and human.Take my word for it, that exile will see an end. The wrath of God ishanging over the head of the tyrant, who gives the servants of God tobe devoured by beasts. Your accuser will return and demand justice ofa tribunal, that you cannot bribe as you did the judges to whom ThraxBarbatus appealed for his rights."
"Mean slave!" cried Stephanus furious. "And what is there to preventme from having you racked and tortured, till every nerve in your bodywrithes with anguish like a worm?"
"Well, satisfy your vengeance. Throw me into the lowest depths of yourergastulum, and leave me there to rot before I die. Send me to joinyour father--aye, your father--for I know it, and Afranius knows it--itwas not your uncle even, but your own father, who was the victim ofyour brutal crime."
"Silence!" roared Stephanus, "or I will murder you!" and he flew at theslave. But something in the man's lofty indifference again stayed theblow.
"Is it loathing and horror of yourself, that hold you back?" askedEurymachus. "Aye, shudder, Stephanus, and quail! Yes--I saw him, thehapless wretch, half-mad on his filthy bed of straw. I shuddered at ittoo, as if hell had shown me its horrors, and I thanked God, even withtears, when I knew that in that very hour the suffering soul was free.For three dreadful years, immured by his own son, bereft of life andhope, fed like a beggar's dog--and this for the sake of filthy lucre,which you would certainly have had in the course of time! Why, thebloodiest patricide is meritorious, when compared with your crime!"
Then suddenly drawing himself up, he went on:
"Listen to me, and mark well what I say. I was in safety--free, andas a _free_ man could laugh at your penalties and your threats. ThenI learnt that Quintus Claudius, who once did me a great benefit, wascast into prison; I learnt that the Senate had condemned him to die forthe faith's sake. From that moment I had but one idea: to free him atthe risk of my own life--as he once freed me. I hastened hither fromGermania, where I had found a peaceful though laborious refuge, andacross Gaul to the sea. At Massilia I took a place on board a galleythat was short-handed, and served as a rower to reach Ostia--thus I gotto Rome two days before your bloody sports began. Here indeed I findnews to shake my soul; I heard, that the dearest treasure I possessedon earth had died a most pitiable death. But even this dreadful newscould not divert me from the end I had in view. I thought, schemed,considered--all in vain. It was too late for any elaborate plans, andI had no means of effecting a bold stroke. So I determined at leastto offer one last consolation to the friend I could not save: theconsolation of knowing that one heart on earth beat true. For the gloryof our common faith I intended, as soon as Quintus Claudius shouldappear on the arena, to hasten down to meet him, to thank him once morefor the infinite, loving kindness he has shown to a poor slave, and tosuffer the same death by his side. Then your spies seized me. Well, whoknows whether this disaster, which at first drove me to despair, is notrather the merciful dealing of Providence? You are all-powerful; yourwisdom rules the Empress. I swear to you by that God whom we confess,unshaken even in death, that I will not only be silent myself as toyour crime, but that I will bind over Afranius to do likewise, if youwill use your influence to save Quintus Claudius."
"Impossible!" said Stephanus with a gasp. "I hate him, he is my enemy,he must die."
"Does that mean, that you have reason to fear him too if he lives?"
"Precisely," said Stephanus, scowling.
"Do not be uneasy; a Christian forgives his enemies. Believe me, CneiusAfranius is a far more dangerous foe; and yet, I swear solemnly...."
"Folly!" interrupted the steward. "Even if I took your word for it, sofar as you are concerned, who shall warrant me, that Cneius Afraniuswill listen to you?"
"My solemn oath. Afranius will do what I promise in his name, if I tellhim that I pledged his word for the life of Quintus."
"Stephanus! Stephanus!..." It was the girlish voice of the lad Antinouswho, now that his master had given him his freedom, called him quitefamiliarly by his name.
The steward hastily sheathed and hid the dagger, and hurried out ofthe room. He locked the door carefully and went to meet the boy, whohad come to announce the arrival of Lycoris and Leaina. They came inat the same moment; Leaina with formal politeness, Lycoris almost withvehemence.
"Where is he? where have you put him?" she asked. "I must speak to him,I must question him!"
"I do not understand," said Stephanus evasively. "Explain yourself."
"Presently, my good friend, after supper; but,
for the present, justtake my sweet Leaina into your handsomest parlor and pay her a fewcompliments on her fine scented hair.[154] You are expecting otherguests of course--they may arrive at any moment. Meanwhile, leave mealone with your prisoner--I want to find out from him, how on earth hesucceeded in making a Nazarene of Quintus Claudius."
"What interest can you take in the question?"
"The interest of curiosity--and something more. Do you suppose we womenremain quite indifferent, when the handsomest man in Rome is thrown tothe lions?"
"He ought to be left to us," laughed Leaina; "we should demolish himmore tenderly."
"But, I beg of you...." said Stephanus, paying no heed to Leaina. "Ifit were known--what would people think?"
"Anything they please. Make haste; where is he? I am dying to hear whathe has to say."
"Very well...." said Stephanus, shrugging his shoulders, and with anunsteady hand he unlocked the door again, went into the room, andwhispered to the slave. "I will see what can be done for QuintusClaudius--meanwhile, not a word--or...."
He ended with a horribly suggestive gesture. Then he added in a loudertone:
"Here is a lady, who wants some information as to your relations withQuintus Claudius; answer her with due respect and strict regard totruth."
The bronze lamp was still standing on the shelf. Lycoris went in andclosed the door behind her, while Stephanus, with a heavy heart,conducted Leaina to the peristyle where, in a few minutes, they werejoined by Martial and a few other guests, who vied with each other intheir attentions to the graceful and coquettish Asiatic.
Then they went to table. The first dish had been handed round, thefirst cup was emptied--Lycoris was still with the prisoner. At lastStephanus sent a messenger, who returned with an indefinite answer. Aquarter of an hour slipped by; the steward was growing impatient. Hesent a second messenger, who, to his great astonishment, brought backthe reply that Lycoris felt ill, and begged to be excused if she didnot join them in the triclinium.
Stephanus started to his feet. What nonsense was this? Did this saucyjade take him for a fool? or was she making common cause with the foe?Who could tell whether this private meeting with Eurymachus had notbeen instigated by Parthenius? After all that Stephanus had heard fromClodianus, there was nothing he might not expect at the hands of thewire-puller at the Palatium....
He excused himself to his guests with a jest, and hastened to the roomwhere he had left Lycoris. What was his astonishment at finding theyoung Massilian sitting on the floor by the slave, and bathed in tears;while Eurymachus, with a faint flush on his face, was exhorting her ingrave and solemn tones, and only ceased speaking as Stephanus appearedin the doorway.
The Massilian rose and dried her eyes and cheeks.
"I thank you heartily," she said with a deep sigh; "you have lifted aburden from my soul--ah! I never knew till now how intolerable it was."
"What is going on here?" asked Stephanus, suspiciously. "You areweeping? Will you have the goodness to explain to me...?"
"Not now. No, nor presently! You could never understand what it is thatmoves me. How pale you are! I verily believe you are afraid of yourslave there. You do not know, that his noble soul forgives you? Butyou, too, must try to overcome the hatred that possesses you. You mustgrant the slave his freedom, and give him the means of quitting Romein secret and in safety. Nay, more; you must now, at once, make a lasteffort to mitigate the fate of Quintus Claudius. I wish it--I demandit--I insist upon it--and, let me tell you, I am in a position toenforce my commands. Nay, you need not scowl so; I mean it."
"Lycoris!" exclaimed Stephanus, trembling in every limb, "do not forgetto whom you owe everything, and what you rose from."
"From bog and mire, I know it well--but not to struggle all mylife-long in the slough of dependence. You have counted without yourhost, Stephanus! I am no longer your tool. It is you yourself who,without knowing it, have shown me the path to freedom. One sign fromme, and Parthenius will crush you to the earth. I have paid dearlyfor my power, bought it with sin and disgrace--but I mean to use it.Go, Stephanus, and fulfil the behests of the miserable and despisedcreature, on whose neck you once could have set your foot."
Before Stephanus could reply, Antinous, his familiar, was standingbefore him, offering him a note. "A message from the Empress," he said,out of breath.
Stephanus opened it and read:
"Domitia to her Steward. I must speak with you at once, this instant"
"I will come," said Stephanus, with a side glance at Lycoris. "Themessenger can say, that I am close behind him. And now, Lycoris--Icannot wait--I promise you...."
"Well, what?"
"All--everything," he said in utter bewilderment, "only give me time tobreathe."
They went together out of the cell, and Stephanus himself locked thedoor; then he seized Lycoris by her wrist and his eyes had a sinisterroll.
"I beg of you," he said, "take my place with my guests."
"Certainly," she replied. "But you--do not forget."
"Serpent!" he snarled between his teeth as he hastily quitted the room.
Domitia received him with unwonted ceremony, and in that samerose-colored room into which she had once before admitted him. She washandsomer than ever.
"Stephanus," she began. "You have carried out your task with a mastery,that almost makes me tremble. I am standing face to face with asplendid triumph, and yet--the gods know! I do not rejoice in it. Iam told that Quintus Claudius is as calm and unshaken as a demi-god.To-day, as I saw the beasts standing over their gory prey, I picturedhim to myself--him...! Stephanus, even at this last moment, you muststem the current and divert it into some happier channel. You may callme faithless--false; I cannot help it, I refuse you the reward of yourcruel services, unless you succeed even now in saving Quintus Claudius."
"But Madam, you crush me to the earth," cried Stephanus in accents ofunfeigned despair. "You too...! But how can I...? If you yourself havenot the power...."
"You must achieve, what your mistress has failed in doing. I have askedhis pardon of Caesar, and have been refused--perhaps for no otherreason, but that it was I who asked it. I loathe the fate, which thushumiliates me! And you, Stephanus, can you risk your life for yourmistress?"
"For the prize of your love? my life a thousand times over."
"Well then--but come close that I may speak low. I know, that duringthe last few months you have often in secret paid visits to Clodianus;ah! your surprise is in itself a confession. You are compromised,past all escape; but fear nothing! I know all. Now, perhaps, you mayunderstand what has hitherto puzzled you: why I have tried to influenceParthenius through Lycoris.--Now, tell me, how would you like to seeDomitia, your sovereign, Empress of the World?"
"Madam--I am bewildered, helpless; too much is coming upon me at once.I confess...."
"Now, consider what you have to do. If the sceptre were in my hand thisday, Quintus Claudius would be pardoned. But, as it is, my will is amere breath beating vainly against the rock of perversity and cruelty.It is all the same, you must save him--I swear it, by my wrath, by mylove!"
"Oh! this is torment, martyrdom! What an incredible revulsion; is yourrevenge already slaked? And supposing I could save him--who knowswhether you might not then reproach me, for having yielded to therequest you insist on so vehemently to-day? Then, once more, I shouldbe cheated of heaven and plunged deeper than ever into the gulf ofdespair."
"I swear to you by Styx, that dark river by which the gods themselvesswear: I am yours, as soon as Quintus is saved. You must see,Stephanus, offended pride has gone too far. Have you not heard, thathis father is on his death-bed? Pity will have its way, if only for theguiltless father's sake. I too will claim the privilege of the gods andforgive. Now, leave me, Stephanus--go, set to work at once."
"I have no notion how.--But Domitia commands, and I obey. Such apassion as mine dares even the impossible."
He left the room.
"I am but a weak creature," said Domitia to herself, "but
I am undera spell. The idea came suddenly into my mind like an inspiration fromheaven, and I was goaded by it into action. No, no, I cannot bear it;Quintus Claudius a victim to some ravening brute! That noble form,mangled and torn! Sooner would I strangle him with my own hands."
Stephanus went to his own rooms, and there he demeaned himself like amadman. What curse was this, that had fallen upon him, in this absurddemand from three quarters at once? Had he triumphed so signally overQuintus Claudius, only to lose his vantage-ground; had he so painfullyraised an edifice only to strike it into ruins with his own hand?Besides, how was he to do the odious task in so short a time? It wasenough to drive him mad.
For the first time in many years the most unheard-of thing occurred:Stephanus, the courtly man of the world, entirely forgot his company.He had left them at table and did not even return to apologize. Hepaced his study incessantly like a tiger in his cage, and when atlast Lycoris came in search of him, his face was furious, his eyesbloodshot, his lips livid.
"What has happened?" asked Lycoris horrified.
"Has the boy made fools of you all?" shrieked the steward, hoarse withrage. "Away with you--go! You see I am incapable of attending to you!"
"Oh! I am going. But do not forget--every minute is precious."
FOOTNOTES:
[154] HER FINE SCENTED HAIR. The hair was anointed with costly essences, especially with an oil, made from the blossoms of the Indian spikenard (_Nardus indica._)