A Struggle for Rome, v. 1

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  A few weeks later, we find Cethegus in the well-known room containingthe statue of Caesar, together with our new acquaintance, Petros, theambassador of the Emperor Justinian, or rather of the Empress.

  The two men had shared a simple meal and had emptied a flask of oldMassikian together, exchanging reminiscences of past times--they hadbeen fellow-students, as we already know--and had just left thedinner-room for the study of Cethegus, in order, undisturbed by theattendants, to talk over more confidential affairs.

  "As soon as I had convinced myself," said Cethegus, concluding hisaccount of late events, "that the alarming reports from Ravenna wereonly rumours--perhaps inventions, and, at all events, exaggerated--Iopposed the utmost coolness to the excitement and zeal of my friends.Lucius Lucinius, with his fiery temper and foolish enthusiasm, almostspoilt everything. He repeatedly demanded that I should accept theoffice of Dictator, and literally put his sword to my breast, shoutingthat I should be compelled to serve the fatherland. He let out so manysecrets, that it was fortunate the dark Corsican--who seems to stick tothe Goths, no one knows why--took him to be more drunk than he reallywas. At last news came that Amalaswintha had returned, and so peopleand Senate gradually became more calm."

  "And you," said Petros, "have saved Rome for the second time from therevenge of the barbarians--a service which can never be forgotten, andfor which all the world, but most of all the Queen, must thank you."

  "The Queen--poor woman!" answered Cethegus, shrugging his shoulders."Who knows how long the Goths, or your imperial master at Byzantium,will leave her upon her throne?"

  "What! You mistake entirely!" interrupted Petros eagerly. "My embassywas intended, above all other things, to support her government; and Iwas just upon the point of asking your advice," he added cunningly, "asto how this can best be done."

  But the Prefect leaned back his head against the marble wall, andlooked with a smile at the ambassador.

  "Oh, Petros! oh, Peter!" he said. "Why so secret? I thought we kneweach other better."

  "What do you mean?" asked the Byzantine, embarrassed.

  "I mean that we have not studied law and history together at Berytusand Athens in vain. I mean that at that time we already, while workingtogether and exchanging our wise thoughts, came to the conclusion thatthe Emperor must drive out these barbarians, and rule again in Rome ashe does in Byzantium. And as I think now just as I did then, you alsowill surely not have become a different man."

  "I must subject my views to those of my master; and Justinian----"

  "Naturally burns to rule in Italy."

  "But certainly," said Petros, much embarrassed, "cases might occur----"

  "Peter," said Cethegus, now rising indignantly, "use no phrases and nolies with me; they do no good. See, Petros, this is your old fault; youare ever too cunning to be wise. You think that you must always lie,and are never courageous enough to be truthful. How can you pretend tome that the Emperor does not mean to have Italy again? Whether he willuphold or overthrow the Queen depends upon whether he thinks he willreach his goal more easily with or without her. What his opinion is Iam not to know. But, in spite of all your cunning, the next time wemeet I will tell you to your face what he intends to do."

  A wicked and bitter smile played upon the ambassador's thin lips.

  "Still as proud as ever you were in the schools of logic at Athens," hesaid spitefully.

  "Yes; and at Athens, you know, I was always the first, Procopius thesecond, and you came third."

  Syphax just then entered the room.

  "A veiled woman, sir," he said, "awaits you in the Hall of Jupiter."

  Glad that the conversation was thus interrupted, for he did not feelcapable of arguing with the Prefect, Petros said, with a grin:

  "I wish you joy of such an interruption."

  "Yes, for your own sake," answered Cethegus, smiling; and left theroom.

  "You shall one day repent your sarcasm, haughty man!" thought theByzantine.

  In the hall--which received the name of Jupiter from a beautifulstatue, sculptured by Glycon of Athens--Cethegus found a woman, cladrichly in the Gothic costume. On his entrance, she threw back the cowlof her brown mantle.

  "Princess Gothelindis!" cried the Prefect in surprise. "What leads youto me?"

  "Revenge!" she answered, in a hoarse voice, and advanced towards him.

  Her features were sharp, but not plain; she would even have been calledbeautiful, but that her left eye was utterly destroyed, and the wholeof her left cheek disfigured by a long scar. The wound seemed to bleedafresh as her cheeks flushed while pronouncing the angry word. Suchdeadly hatred shone from her grey eye, that Cethegus involuntarilyretreated.

  "Revenge?" he asked. "On whom?"

  "On--of that later. Forgive that I disturb you," she added, composingherself. "Your friend Petros of Byzantium is with you, is he not?"

  "Yes; but how do you know?"

  "Oh! I saw him enter your door before supper," she answered, withassumed indifference.

  "That is not true," said Cethegus to himself; "for he was brought in bythe garden-gate. So they have made an appointment here, and I was notto know it. What can they want with me?"

  "I will not keep you long," continued Gothelindis. "I have only onequestion to ask of you. Answer briefly, 'yes' or 'no.' I have the powerto ruin that woman--the daughter of Theodoric--and I have the will. Areyou for me in this, or against me?"

  "Oh! friend Petros," thought the Prefect. "Now I already know what youintend to do with Amalaswintha. But we will see how far you havegone.--Gothelindis," he said aloud, "I readily believe that you wish toruin the Gothic Queen; but I doubt if you can do so."

  "Listen to me, and then decide whether I can or no. The woman hascaused the three dukes to be murdered."

  Cethegus shrugged his shoulders. "Many people think that."

  "But I can prove it."

  "You don't say so?" exclaimed Cethegus incredulously.

  "Duke Thulun, as you know, did not die immediately. He was attacked onthe AEmilian Way, near my villa at Tannetum. My husbandmen found him andbrought him into my house. You know that he was my cousin--I belong tothe Balthe family. He died in my arms."

  "Well, and what said the sick man in his fever?"

  "Fever! Nothing of the sort! As Duke Thulun fell, he wounded hismurderer, who was not able to fly far. My husbandmen sought for him,and found him dying in the nearest wood. He confessed everything tome."

  Cethegus imperceptibly compressed his lips.

  "Well? What was he? What did he say?"

  "He was an Isaurian mercenary," said Gothelindis sharply, "anoverlooker of the works on the ramparts at Rome, and he said,'Cethegus, the Prefect, sent me to the Queen, and the Queen sent me toDuke Thulun!'"

  "Who heard his confession besides you?" asked Cethegus.

  "No one. And no one shall know of this, if you stand by me. But if not,then----"

  "Gothelindis," interrupted the Prefect, "no threats! They are of nouse. You must comprehend that they can only aggravate, but not controlme. In case of need, I would allow it to come to an open accusation.You are known as the bitter enemy of Amalaswintha, and your evidencealone--you were imprudent enough to confess that no one else heard thedeclaration of the dying man--would ruin neither her nor me. You cannotforce me to act against the Queen; at the most, you could persuade me,if you can show that it would be to my advantage. And to do this, Imyself will propose an ally to you. You certainly know Petros, myfriend?"

  "Very well; long since."

  "Permit me to fetch him to this conference."

  He returned to his study.

  "Petros, my visitor is the Princess Gothelindis, the wife of Theodahad.She wishes to speak to both of us. Do you know her?"

  "I? oh no. I have never seen her," answered Petros quickly.

  "'Tis well; follow me."

  As soon as they entered the hall, Gothelindis cried out:

  "Welcome, o
ld friend! What a surprising meeting!"

  Petros was dumb. Cethegus, his hands clasped behind his back, enjoyedthe confusion of the Byzantine.

  "Do you see, Petros? always too cunning, always unnecessary subtleties!But come, do not be so cast down by the discovery of a trick. So youtwo have combined together for the Queen's ruin. You wish to persuademe to help you. But before doing so, I must know your intentionsexactly. Whom will you place upon Amalaswintha's throne? For the way isnot yet open for Justinian."

  Both were silent for some moments. His clear perception of thesituation surprised them. At last Gothelindis spoke:

  "Theodahad, my husband, the last of the Amelungs."

  "Theodahad, the last of the Amelungs," Cethegus repeated slowly.

  Meanwhile, he considered all the advantages and disadvantages of thisplan. He reflected that Theodahad, unloved by the Goths, and raised tothe throne by Petros, would soon be entirely in the power of theByzantines, and that the catastrophe would be brought about in adifferent manner and earlier than he intended. He reflected that hemust at all events keep the armies of the East Romans at a distance forthe longest possible time, and he decided to keep up the present stateof things and support Amalaswintha, because thus he would gain time forhis preparations. All this he had thought over, weighed, and decidedupon, in a few moments.

  "And how will you commence proceedings?" he asked gravely.

  "We shall desire the Queen to abdicate in favour of my husband,threatening, in case of refusal, to accuse her of murder."

  "And if she runs the risk?"

  "We will carry out our threat," said Petros, "and raise a storm amongstthe Goths, which will----"

  "Cost her her life!" cried Gothelindis.

  "Perhaps cost her her throne," said Cethegus, "but hardly give it toTheodahad. No, if the Goths are allowed to _choose_ a king, he will notbear the name of 'Theodahad.'"

  "That is too true," said Gothelindis angrily.

  "Then there might easily come a king who would be much less welcome tous all than Amalaswintha. And therefore I tell you openly, I am not onyour side; I will uphold the Queen."

  "Then there is war between us," cried Gothelindis grimly, and turnedtowards the door. "Come, Petros."

  "Softly, friends," said the Byzantine. "Perhaps Cethegus will changehis mind when he has read this paper," and he gave the Prefect theletter which Alexandros had brought from Amalaswintha to Justinian.

  Cethegus read; his features darkened.

  "Well," said Petros sarcastically, "will you still support the Queen,who has vowed your ruin? Where would you be if she carried out herplan, and your friends did not watch over you?"

  Cethegus scarcely listened to him.

  "Pitiful fellow," he thought, "as if it were that! as if the Queen werenot quite right! as if I could blame her for it! But the imprudentwoman has already done what I only feared from Theodahad. She hasruined herself, and frustrated all my plans; she has already called theByzantines into the country, and now they will come, whether she willor no. As long as Amalaswintha reigns, Justinian will play the part ofher protector." And now he turned, in seeming consternation, to theambassador, and, giving him the letter back, asked: "And if she carriesout her intention, when could your troops land?"

  "Belisarius is already on the way to Sicily," said Petros, proud ofhaving abashed the Prefect; "in a week he can anchor before Portus."

  "Unheard of!" cried Cethegus, this time in real dismay.

  "You see," said Gothelindis, who had meanwhile read the letter, "thosewhom you would uphold wish to ruin you. Be beforehand with them."

  "In the name of my Emperor," said Petros, "I summon you to help me todestroy this kingdom of the Goths, and to restore to Italy her freedom.You and your talent are valued as they ought to be at the Emperor'scourt, and, after the victory, Justinian promises you--the dignity of asenator at Byzantium."

  "Is it possible?" cried Cethegus. "But not even this highest; ofhonours drives me with such eagerness into your plans as my indignationagainst the ungrateful Queen, who in reward for all my services,threatens my life.--But are you sure?" he asked anxiously, "thatBelisarius will not land at once?"

  "Do not be uneasy," answered Petros; "it is my hand that will beckon,when it is time. First, Amalaswintha must be replaced by Theodahad."

  "That is well," thought Cethegus; "with time all is won, and theByzantines shall not land until I can receive them at the head of Italyin arms.--I am yours," he added aloud, turning to Gothelindis, "and Ithink I can bring Amalaswintha to set the crown upon your husband'shead with her own hands. She shall resign the sceptre."

  "The Queen will never do that!" cried Gothelindis.

  "Perhaps! Her generosity is still greater than her ambition. It ispossible to ruin one's enemies through their virtues," said Cethegusthoughtfully. "I am now sure of the thing, and I greet you, Queen ofthe Goths!" he concluded, with a slight bow.