Chapter IX
IN WHICH AN ADVENTURE HAPPENS TO IONE.
WHILE some stayed behind to share with the priests the funeral banquet,Ione and her handmaids took homeward their melancholy way. And now (thelast duties to her brother performed) her mind awoke from itsabsorption, and she thought of her allianced, and the dread chargeagainst him. Not--as we have before said--attaching even a momentarybelief to the unnatural accusation, but nursing the darkest suspicionagainst Arbaces, she felt that justice to her lover and to her murderedrelative demanded her to seek the praetor, and communicate herimpression, unsupported as it might be. Questioning her maidens, whohad hitherto--kindly anxious, as I have said, to save her the additionalagony--refrained from informing her of the state of Glaucus, she learnedthat he had been dangerously ill: that he was in custody, under the roofof Sallust; that the day of his trial was appointed.
'Averting gods,' she exclaimed; 'and have I been so long forgetful ofhim? Have I seemed to shun him? O! let me hasten to do him justice--toshow that I, the nearest relative of the dead, believe him innocent ofthe charge. Quick! quick! let us fly. Let me soothe--tend--cheer him!and if they will not believe me; if they will not lead to my conviction;if they sentence him to exile or to death, let me share the sentencewith him!'
Instinctively she hastened her pace, confused and bewildered, scarceknowing whither she went; now designing first to seek the praetor, andnow to rush to the chamber of Glaucus. She hurried on--she passed thegate of the city--she was in the long street leading up the town. Thehouses were opened, but none were yet astir in the streets; the life ofthe city was scarce awake--when lo! she came suddenly upon a small knotof men standing beside a covered litter. A tall figure stepped from themidst of them, and Ione shrieked aloud to behold Arbaces.
'Fair Ione!' said he, gently, and appearing not to heed her alarm: 'myward, my pupil! forgive me if I disturb thy pious sorrows; but thepraetor, solicitous of thy honour, and anxious that thou mayest notrashly be implicated in the coming trial; knowing the strangeembarrassment of thy state (seeking justice for thy brother, butdreading punishment to thy betrothed)--sympathizing, too, with thyunprotected and friendless condition, and deeming it harsh that thoushouldst be suffered to act unguided and mourn alone--hath wisely andpaternally confided thee to the care of thy lawful guardian. Behold thewriting which intrusts thee to my charge!'
'Dark Egyptian!' cried Ione, drawing herself proudly aside; 'begone! Itis thou that hast slain my brother! Is it to thy care, thy hands yetreeking with his blood, that they will give the sister Ha! thou turnestpale! thy conscience smites thee! thou tremblest at the thunderbolt ofthe avenging god! Pass on, and leave me to my woe!'
'Thy sorrows unstring thy reason, Ione,' said Arbaces, attempting invain his usual calmness of tone. 'I forgive thee. Thou wilt find menow, as ever, thy surest friend. But the public streets are not thefitting place for us to confer--for me to console thee. Approach,slaves! Come, my sweet charge, the litter awaits thee.'
The amazed and terrified attendants gathered round Ione, and clung toher knees.
'Arbaces,' said the eldest of the maidens, 'this is surely not the law!For nine days after the funeral, is it not written that the relatives ofthe deceased shall not be molested in their homes, or interrupted intheir solitary grief?'
'Woman!' returned Arbaces, imperiously waving his hand, 'to place a wardunder the roof of her guardian is not against the funeral laws. I tellthee I have the fiat of the praetor. This delay is indecorous. Placeher in the litter.'
So saying, he threw his arm firmly round the shrinking form of Ione.She drew back, gazed earnestly in his face, and then burst intohysterical laughter:
'Ha, ha! this is well--well! Excellent guardian--paternal law! Ha,ha!' And, startled herself at the dread echo of that shrill and maddenedlaughter, she sunk, as it died away, lifeless upon the ground... Aminute more, and Arbaces had lifted her into the litter. The bearersmoved swiftly on, and the unfortunate Ione was soon borne from the sightof her weeping handmaids.
The Last Days of Pompeii Page 35