In an hour Zeno returned from the bath. As he crossed the courtyard,all the slaves, chained and unchained, were sitting at their scantymeal, consisting of small pieces of coarse barley-bread, onions, andbad wine, sour as vinegar. He went into his writing-room to hisaccounts.
There, as was well known, no one dared disturb him.
This room--alone in the house--had instead of curtains a strong woodendoor, which could be locked.
The low window looked on a narrow lane, not on the principal street.
He soon noticed an unusual noise, as of the screaming and running ofmany men in the distance. The door then opened gently. Astonished,displeased at the intrusion, Zeno turned.
He was still more astonished to see old Thrax standing upon thethreshold, who shut the door carefully, turned the key, and laid hisfinger on his lips, warning silence, for his master had angrily given acry of displeasure.
"Flee, master! Quick! Through the window! Thou art a dead man if theyseize thee."
"Who? Are the barbarians in the town?"
"Thy slaves; they are in revolt; all, in the whole town. They will behere immediately."
Horror seized the Byzantian. He was well aware what vengeance he hadheaped up against himself. From the courtyard the wild cry already rangin his ears. He seized a large bag of gold pieces, and a little pursefull of precious stones which lay before him on the counter of slate;he had been in the act of counting them. The old man pushed a stool tothe window to help him to mount. Zeno started; it was with astonishmentthat he saw the old man actively engaged about his escape. "Why doestthou this for me?"
The slave answered solemnly: "I do it for the sake of the Saviour;Johannes has taught me that my Lord Christ has said: 'Reward evil withgood.'"
"But whither, whither shall I flee?"
"To the church! There is safety. Johannes will protect thee."
"Johannes!"
Zeno wondered if the Tribune had already carried out his bloodycounsel. His knees shook. He was not able to climb the low breastworkof the window.
Nearer and nearer sounded the uproar.
He heard the voice of Calvus. "Mercy! mercy!" he cried.
Immediately afterwards was heard a heavy fall.
"Alas!" groaned Zeno, now at last lifted up by the slave to the window."If they guess my hiding-place!"
"Master, no one knows it but myself, and I"----
"Thou shalt never betray me!" cried the Byzantian, and he seized thedagger in his tunic, thrust it to the haft in the neck of the old man,and swung himself into the street.