The Scarlet Banner

  CHAPTER V

  Gelimer sat down on the couch; Zazo stood before him, leaning on hislong sword, and began,--

  "Soon after you went to the field, Pudentius came from Tripolis toCarthage."

  "Again?"

  "Yes, he is often at the palace and talks for hours, alone with theKing. Or with Euages and Hoamer, the King's nephews, our belovedcousins. The latter, arrogant blockhead, can't keep silent after wine.In a drunken revel he told the secret."

  "But surely not to you?"

  "No! To red-haired Thrasaric."

  "The savage!"

  "I don't commend his morals," cried the other, laughing. "Yet he hasgrown much more sedate since he is honestly trying to win the daintyEugenia. But he never lies. And he would die for the Vandal nation;especially for you, whom he calls his tutor. You begin education withblows. In the grove of Venus--"

  "The Holy Virgin, you mean," Gelimer corrected.

  "If you prefer?--yes! But it does the Virgin little honor, so long asthe old customs remain. So, at a banquet in the shell grotto of thatgrove, Thrasaric was praising you, and said you would restore thewarlike fame of the Vandals as soon as you were king, when Hoamershouted angrily: 'Never! That will never be! Constantinople hasforbidden it. Gelimer is the Emperor's foe. When my uncle dies, _I_shall be king; or the Emperor will appoint Pudentius Regent of thekingdom. So it has been discussed and settled among us.'"

  "That was said in a fit of drunkenness."

  "Under the influence of wine--and in wine is truth, the Romans say.Just at that moment Pudentius came into the grotto. 'Aha!' called thedrunken man, 'your last letter from the Emperor was worth its weight ingold. Just wait till I am King, I will reward you: you shall be theEmperor's exarch in Tripolis.'

  "Pudentius was greatly startled and winked at him to keep silence, buthe went on: 'No, no! that's your well-earned reward.' All this was toldme by Thrasaric in the first outbreak of his wrath after he hadrushed away from the banquet. But wait: there is more to come! ThisPudentius--do you believe him our friend?"

  "Oh, no," sighed Gelimer. "His grandparents and parents were cruellyslain by our kings because they remained true to their religion. Howshould the son and grandson love us?"

  Zazo went close up to his brother, laid his hand heavily on hisshoulder, and said slowly: "And _Verus_? Is _he_ to love us? Have youforgotten how his whole family--?"

  Gelimer shook his head mournfully: "Forget _that_? I?" He shuddered andclosed his eyes. Then, rousing himself by a violent effort from theburden of his gloomy thoughts, he went on: "Still your firmly rooteddelusion! Always this distrust of the most faithful among all who loveme!"

  "Oh, brother! But I will not upbraid you; your clear mind is blinded,blinded by this priest! It seems as if there were some miracle atwork--"

  "It _is_ a miracle," interrupted Gelimer, deeply moved, raising hiseyes devoutly.

  "But what say you to the fact that this Pudentius, whom you, too, donot trust, is admitted to the city secretly at night--by whom? ByVerus, your bosom friend!"

  "That is not true."

  "I have seen it. I will swear it to the priest's face. Oh, if only hewere here now!"

  "He is not far away. He told me--he was the first one of you all togreet me at the parade--that he longed to see me, he must speak to meat once. I appointed this place; as soon as the King dismissed me Iwould be here. Do you see? He is already coming down the colonnade."