Valerius. A Roman Story

  _CHAPTER X._

  I was in bed before Dromo interrupted my reflections by saying, in a lowtone of considerable confidence, "And now, Master Valerius, do you stillcontinue, as much as two days ago, to disbelieve in philtres and despiseenchantresses? You see what, with all my precaution, has come of thisconnection between Rubellia and the Neapolitan."

  "In truth, Dromo," I replied, "it is visible that Pona had some share inleading the soldiers to the Sempronian Sepulchre; but I am doubtful ifthat had any thing to do with the private affairs of the lady Rubellia. Asto that matter, I confess myself entirely in the dark."--"Dark indeed,"quoth he, "must your observation have been, if you have yet to learn that,but for that accursed witch, nothing of all this had befallen; but ifthere be an edict against the Christians, there are twenty laws againstsorcery; and that both Pona and she that consulted her shall know well erelong, if they do not as yet know it; or may Cretan change places withBoeotian!"--"Say on, good Dromo," I replied, "I am all ears; and as youappear to have been all eyes, I shall probably soon be more enlightened."

  "Well," quoth he, "I am glad to find that you are in a mood to listen tome decently. You remember where I took my station when you mounted thoseunfortunate steps upon the tower. I had not stood there many minutesbefore I heard somebody approaching; and having no doubt it was Rubellia,I was preparing myself for giving her such a salutation as I thought wouldput a speedy end to her wandering for that night. On came the steps, butno Rubellia. No; it was Xerophrastes himself; and although he had laidaside the Greek mantle, and donned a boatman's black cloak for the nonce,I promise you I knew his stately gait well enough beneath all these newtrappings. It was no part of my job, however, to attempt frightening thestoic."--"And so you let him pass without doing any thing?"--"I did; Iconfess I gave one or two groans after he had gone on a few paces, but Idid not observe him much quicken his walk, and I believe, to do the manjustice, he set it all down to the wind rustling among the trees. But Ithought not much of him at all, to speak the truth; for, said I to myself,Well, if it be as I have suspected for these two blessed days, and thismaster long-beard is really in league with the widow, the chances are, sheherself is not far behind him. I lay by, therefore, and expected insilence till I should hear another tread; and in the meantime I spoke toyou once or twice across the path, but you made me no answer, for whichyou know your own reasons."--"The reason," said I, "was a very simple one,I assure you. I had fallen asleep, and no wonder, for you know how long Ihad been a watcher."--"Well," said he, "I guessed as much, and it wasnothing but the born tenderness of my disposition, which made me ceasefrom offering you any disturbance. I thought I should surely be enoughsingle-handed for the widow; and besides, in case of need, I knew yourwaking would always be in my power."

  "Admirably reasoned, Dromo," said I; "and so it seems no need came, foryou certainly never awakened me; for which I may thank the bonds fromwhich the Centurion's kindness has just set me free. But you have atonedabundantly--I pray you, get on with your tale."

  "Presently," he resumed, "I heard footsteps, indeed, my good master, andnot footsteps alone, but voices; and I moved from the place as hastily asI could, till I came to a tree, the branches of which, springing low onthe trunk, offered an opportunity for mounting, which I should have been aBoeotian indeed had I neglected. I mounted, and hiding myself as well as Icould among the boughs, awaited the arrival of the party, whichconsisted--ay, stare if you will--of Xerophrastes and the widow, walking infront, in earnest talk by themselves,--and the Neapolitan in the rear. Theyhalted, and though they spoke low, I could hear them distinctly."--"Andwhat, in the name of Heaven, said they?"

  "'Are you sure,' said the widow, 'that this is indeed the girl whom Sextuswent to see at the Villa? Can there be no mistake?'--'Mistake, lady, thereis none,' replied the Stoic. 'Pona was at the villa with her basket, andshe saw them all walking together in the garden.'--'And this littleChristian,' said the lady as if to herself, 'it is she that has cost meall this trouble! It is for this Athanasia that I have been insulted asnever woman was by man, and they are both here in the tower!'--'They are,lady,' quoth the witch; 'they are both in the tower, for I saw her go inby her self first, and then in went some dozen of those muffledblasphemers, and, last of all, went in he himself. I saw him not enterindeed, but I swear to you, that I saw him here not twenty paces fromhence, and he had with him that cunning slave of his, (meaning myself,sir,) whose ugly face, (the foul woman added,) I would know although itwere disguised beneath all the washes that were ever mixed in theseething-pots of Calabria.'--'But what,' interrupted our long-beard, 'whatwill Licinius say? At least, my lady and my friend Pona will take goodcare that no suspicion rests upon me. Sextus is a silly boy, withouttaste, judgment, or discretion; but Licinius is acute and powerful.'--'Fearnot,' said Rubellia; 'fear not, dear Xerophrastes. Nobody shall appear inthe matter except Pona, and she tells you she has already given warning atthe Capene Gate. There are always a hundred men stationed on the Coelian.Nothing can save them!'

  "These words were scarcely out of her mouth, ere the soldiers were heardapproaching. Xerophrastes ascended with great agility a tree just overagainst mine; Rubellia retreated among the pines; and Pona alone awaitedthe guard. I would have periled a limb to have been able to give you thealarm; but little did I suspect, that had I sought you where I left you, Ishould have sought in vain.--How, I pray you, did you contrive to get intothe accursed tower?"

  I told him I should give him the story another time at full length, andmentioned briefly what had occurred. And then the Cretan proceeded withhis narrative.

  "I leave you to guess, Valerius, how my heart beat when I saw the witchlead the soldiers straight to the place where I supposed you were stillsitting--with what anxiety I saw the tower surrounded--its tenants broughtout,--with what astonishment I saw you led out, the last of their number.--Ihad neither time to think by what means all this had happened, nor theleast power to interfere. I saw you all mounted--guarded--borne away.Whither they carried you, I was unable to make the smallest conjecture. Isaw Sabinus speak to you, and then I had hope,--but that too failed. Inbrief, I did not venture from my tree till the whole assembly, notforgetting Xerophrastes, had departed; and you may judge what a story Ihad to tell Sextus when I reached home.

  "Instead of waiting to ponder and hesitate, as he used to do when his ownmatters perplexed him, he went from me straight to his father. But beforethey had done with their conversation, Sabinus himself arrived, and he wasimmediately taken into the same chamber where they were. Licinius and hewent out together soon afterwards, and I think they walked towards thePalatine; but whithersoever they went, they had a good deal of work beforethem, for the day had advanced considerably before they returned. TheCenturion's horses were brought to the door shortly after; my masterdesired me to accompany him; and gave me letters for you, which I hadalmost forgotten to deliver."

  Such was the story of the faithful Cretan. The letter of Licinius I havestill preserved:--

  "Since our Sabinus desires that I should write to you, although his ownkindness renders it unnecessary that I should do so, I cannot refuse. Iunderstand little, my Valerius, of what has brought you into thiscondition, from which, not without difficulty overcome, you are,notwithstanding, speedily to be delivered. I guess, that hastiness ofvarious sorts, not, however, entirely without excuse in a person of yourage, has been the means of implicating you in the affairs of a sect,equally unworthy of your communication, whether you consider the countryin which their superstition originated, or the barbarities with which itis stained. But even for beauty, my young friend, it becomes not a Roman,least of all a Valerius, to forget what is due to the laws of Rome, andthe will of the Prince. Consider with yourself how nearly you have escapedserious evil. Return to us, and forget what has passed, except for thelesson it must teach you. Of Rubellia and Xerophrastes I am unwilling tobelieve, without farther examination, what has been told me by my slaveDromo. We shall speak of that and other matters,
when (which I hope willbe early to-morrow) you once more give me the pleasure of seeing you. Ihave then much to say. Farewell."