Neæra: A Tale of Ancient Rome

by Joel Chandler Harris

  CHAPTER V.

  Shortly before noon on the same morning Domitius Afer climbed the steeppath which led to the Prefect's house. On arriving at the villa he foundthat Sejanus had gone to the Emperor's stronghold on the eastern cliffs,where the Pretorians on duty in the island were barracked. Thither hethought it worth while to follow. Coming out of the gates of the villaJovis he met Martialis, arrayed in simple civilian costume. With thebarest recognition possible they went on their way, but Afer wassufficiently interested to tell his Greek attendant to loiter behind, andwatch which way the young Centurion aimed for.

  Three sides of the Emperor's favourite villa were surrounded by strongdefences. The fourth side, since it rested on the edge of the cliffs, wasimpregnable to everything save the birds of the air. Between the villawith its private grounds, and the outside girdle of defence, was an amplespace, partly planted with trees. It was occupied, in one part, by a rangeof buildings, which were the quarters of the Pretorian detachmentgarrisoning the island during its tenure as an Imperial residence. Theentrances of the villa itself were each guarded by the customarylegionary, but, elsewhere, Afer met with no challenge to impede his steps.In the middle of the wide parade ground fronting the barrack houses, heperceived the Prefect speaking with an officer, who was a man approachingthe gigantic in stature.

  Afer loitered apart until the huge Pretorian officer went off, and thenSejanus turned towards him. 'Good morrow, my Titus! Did you climb to thevilla this morning?'

  'As usual, Prefect.'

  'I rested ill last night, and was astir earlier in consequence,' saidSejanus. 'There is nothing new from Rome.'

  'Alas, I would I were there!' sighed Afer; 'the heaviness of this listlessisle is insupportable. The mountains, the rocks, and the sea--the sea, therocks, and the mountains; there is nothing else. The senses rust, thebrain is numb, and one walks as if steeped to the lips in a heavy dream orphantasmagoria. Would I were standing in my porch on the Esquiline!'

  'What, exchange this pure air, this fair isle, its peace and repose, forthe smells, and smoke, and roars of that seething cauldron Rome! Tush, youhave twice as much colour in your cheeks, and twice as much sparkle inyour eye, as when we left it. You are hard to please. Turn philosopher orpoet--anything to pass the time. You never hear me repine.'

  'Ah no, but I am not in the lucky position in which you are, Prefect; Ihave no betrothed bride to bid time fly like the wind,' answered Afersarcastically.

  'Go and get you one, then,' said the smiling Prefect.

  'And in what eagle's nest nigh the clouds, or in what secret den belowground should I keep her in this sea prison, that I might have her andcall her still my own?'

  'Get an ill-favoured one and live in peace.'

  'I would rather take beauty and run all risks, if I could land beauty, onsome dark night, and find a snug corner to bestow it safely and unseen,'observed the knight carelessly.

  Knowing his man, he did not expect his speech to have any effect, and hewas, therefore, surprised to see a sudden light flash into his patron'sface.

  'By Hercules!' exclaimed the Prefect sharply, as he struck his forehead atthe same time with his hand, 'was ever an idle speech such an aptreminder!'

  He fumbled in the breast of his tunic.

  'What is it? what lucky word have I said?' said Afer curiously.

  'How came it to slip my mind, and I only received it this morning as Ileft my chamber,' said Sejanus, drawing forth a crumpled paper andoffering it to his friend. 'Read!'

  Afer took the paper, which contained a few crabbed words, as follows:--

  'I arrived last night, and the two females you know of are safely lodged in the house of one Tucca, under the Hill of Mars, a very safe place.'

  There was no signature, but Afer needed none to tell him from whom themissive came.

  'It is very suggestive,' said he, with an inscrutable countenance; 'but,for the rest, I am still too much in the dark to say more.'

  'What then if I tell you that these damsels came from Rome--who would yousay they were, or rather she--for one, as I apprehend, is only a slave?'

  'Rome is large and its females many,' said Afer; 'I would as lieve beginto count the stones on the Marina.'

  'Who but our lovely entertainer on many a pleasant afternoon--who but thequeenly Plautia.'

  'What! Plautia here, and why?' cried the knight, with a start of surprisewhich Roscius might have envied. 'Ah, Prefect, what does this mean?'

  Afer smiled and looked at the handsome Prefect with a sly askant look.

  'Faith, I know not--not I,' answered Sejanus.

  'Um!' said his follower.

  There was something in the manner of this ejaculation which proved toomuch for the other's attempted gravity, and he burst out into a laugh.

  'You would seem to insinuate something, my dear Titus,' he remarked; 'andyet it is quite true, incredible as it may appear, that our lovely andwilful dame has thought fit to visit Capreae entirely in obedience to herown whim.'

  'Most strange!' rejoined Afer pithily.

  'Most true!'

  'There must be a strong reason for such a dainty, exquisite, proud, city-bred lady to come hither--do you not think so?'

  'Whether there be a strong inducement, or merely a woman's curiosity I amequally unaware.'

  'Such privations, such hardships, such fatigues, such inconveniences for afemale to undergo, who has never known even the hardness of a wrinkle inher bed of down. There is never a man in Rome who would not give fiveyears of his life to be able to boast of this feat.'

  'Pooh, pooh, man! you are fantastical this morning.'

  'If I am as near the truth, as it seems to me I am, it matters not whatname you put upon it.'

  'Tush!'

  'Your approaching marriage makes her desperate. It is as clear as thedaylight.'

  'Pooh, pooh, this is nonsense!'

  'The lady is proud; but we ever thought we could detect the signs offeeling for you, in spite of her haughty bearing.'

  'Have done, man--you grow silly.'

  'What must be the power which can so reduce such pride and disdain to suchlapdog humility!'

  'Are you so mad as to imagine that she has ventured hither on my account?'

  'I have said.'

  'Psaw!'

  The ablest minds have their weaknesses, and it was beyond the power of theformidable Prefect's affected scorn to hide the gratification which thisflattery of the influence of his personal advantages caused to lurk in hisvery handsome face.

  His client well knew that he need have little fear of giving offence bystraining too grossly on the point, so he proceeded--

  'Until you are able, therefore, to render another reason for the divinePlautia's presence, it will be vain to dislodge my opinion.'

  'I really cannot say, except that it is merely a woman's whim,' returnedthe other, shrugging his shoulders pityingly. ''Tis strange I forgot shewas coming.'

  'What? did you then know?' said Afer in surprise.

  'Had the least thought of it troubled my brain I must have told you beforenow. Ere we left Rome she vowed, for some reason which I could notdiscover, that she would pay a sly visit to Capreae. She would not bedissuaded, and for the sake of peace I consented. I arranged herconveyance hither; for the rest she must take her chance.'

  'How did she come?'

  'In the vessel of one Tigellinus, who has periodical business in theisland.'

  Both men burst into a laugh.

  'It would be curious to know how the fair Plautia is pleased,' said Afer.

  'I do not know; and whatever her experiences may be, and whatever befallher, she must abide by it, for she would take her own headstrong way.'

  'She will be seen and whispered of through the island, as sure as yon sunshines upon us. Inquiries will be made. Are you not afraid ofcontingencies arising, which it would be unwise and unnecessary toprovoke--with your pardon, Prefect, for speaking thus.'

  The confidential f
ollower nodded significantly toward the west, as if toindicate some particular part of the island. Sejanus regarded himearnestly for a space, and then replied slowly--

  'You are right, Afer. I understand what you mean. I thought of thatpossibility when I granted beauty's request, but I was too hasty andhurried at the time. I am more impressed with it now. This state of thingsis too dangerous; it must be altered, my Titus.'

  'It would be wise to bring the lady's visit to a sudden and hasty close,'rejoined Afer.

  'By Hercules! it must be done,' muttered Sejanus, knitting his brows.'Only think, if my lady Livia were to hear! Come, let us go back to myhouse. I was intending to depart straight to the villa of Neptune; but notnow. One thing is sure; I must see this bold damsel, as soon as there issufficient darkness to cover one's movements. Come, let us march! May allthe powers in heaven give her prudence and keep her in-doors till night.Given that, then the morn may break upon her at a safer distance.'

  At a certain time previous to this conversation, the old man Tucca emergedfrom his dwelling and made toward the town. On the outskirts thereof was awine tavern--a small, unpretending house, standing in a very narrow lane.It was the tavern of Paula. He went in and inquired of the widow herselffor Alexander. She was a native of the island, like himself, and, ofcourse, known to him, as long as she had lived, some five-and-forty years.A quiet smile rested on her yet comely face when, after a few commonplaceremarks, Tucca made his inquiry. She brought him upstairs into a cell-likeroom, just large enough to hold a pallet-bed, whereon Zeno lay asleep.

  'Well, friend Tucca!' said the steward, starting up and stretchinghimself; 'what news? I am revenging myself, as you see, for my earlybusiness this morning.'

  'She has sent me to get tablets, wax, and thread,' said the old man.

  'Oh, indeed!' answered Zeno, nodding and yawning; 'this looks as if sheintended to write a letter. If she does, it may tell us a secret, perhaps.Wait here, and I will be back directly.'

  He left the room, and very soon returned with what the husbandmanrequired.

  'There you have them, Tucca; go and say you got them anywhere but here.'

  'I am well pleased enough,' returned Tucca, 'for it saves me a walk.'

  'And only right, Tucca; you grow old. Fail not to call here on your waywith the missive, or if you are not to carry it, I must know how and whenit flies.'

  Tucca departed, and, in due course, once more emerged from his dwellingtownward--this time with a stout stick, as if bound on a longer journey. Hewas barely out of sight of his own house, when he was startled by thesteward stepping in front of him, from behind a corner of a wall.

  'Well, Tucca,' said that individual, 'have you anything to show me?'

  'Yes, truly, noble Zeno. Faith, you startled me coming out on me in thatfashion,' answered the old man, bringing out the tablets, which weresecurely fastened with some of the thread and wax which Zeno had supplied.

  'Thanks!' said the steward, thrusting them in his tunic. 'Now loiter onfor some hundred yards past the tavern, and I will join you and returnthis.'

  He disappeared, and by and by rejoined Tucca at the place appointed, andgave him the tablets, to all appearance untouched. In the meantime, it hadbeen an easy matter for his nimble and expert fingers to open the missive,note its contents, and fasten it up as before, with thread and wax fromthe same stock. The wine-grower perceived, to his inward satisfaction,that the epistle bore no sign of being meddled with, and went on his wayto deliver it. He left the town on his left hand, and walked on until hearrived at the outer gate of the villa of Jove, just as Afer and hispatron and their servants were turning their steps thither, as described.The quick eye of the knight caught sight of the old man as soon as heappeared on the inside of the enclosure trudging toward the barrack-houses.

  'Look!' he exclaimed in a low voice, nudging the Prefect to enforceattention, 'look at yon old man. That is no other than Tucca, at whosehouse the fair Plautia is lodged. What does he up here? It would be worthwhile knowing, I'll warrant! A thousand pounds, but if we could get toknow we should need little more.'

  'But how?'

  'Quick! There is time, and he does not notice us. Send and bid yonPretorian stop him and ask his business inside the villa. Let your slavelinger by and listen.'

  Sejanus turned hastily and spoke to his slave Lygdus, who hastened tocarry the order to the sentinel, whose post was one of mere discipline,since the townspeople came and went, and did their trafficking without theleast ceremony, except at the entrances of the Imperial residence itself,which were closely watched.

  The party then turned their steps and appeared to stroll gently back, asif in earnest talk. They saw the sentinel stop the wine-grower by placinghis spear across his body. Lygdus stood by, and, after a brief parley, theold man was suffered to proceed. He finally disappeared into the door ofthe building which led to the officers' quarters.

  'Pooh, 'tis only some concern of his own,' remarked Sejanus,--'buying orselling. Well, what did yonder fellow want?' he said to Lygdus, who cameup. 'He seems a dirty, disreputable knave to wander about here withoutquestion.'

  'He is charged with a letter to deliver to the Centurion Martialis, soplease your highness,' replied the Nubian slave.

  'From whom?' demanded his master.

  'I do not know. I did not think it right to inquire into anything of theCenturion's affairs without authority, so I did not ask.'

  'Humph! Quite right, Lygdus; but did you see the tablets? He might havebeen lying.'

  'I saw them when the guard demanded to see them. The man is Tucca, one ofthe oldest islanders and wine-growers. He is well known.'

  'Is he, indeed? I crave his pardon, but he looked most villainously to myeyes. He should get himself a better tunic. But what seemed the letterlike--the writing?'

  'It was quite strange to me.'

  'It is necessary that I see it. The Centurion has left the island tillevening--you understand. We will go in again for a space. Come!'

  Lygdus bent his head and retired to the rear, until Sejanus and hisconfidant had re-entered the officers' quarters. Then in a minute heappeared before the Prefect and the knight with the ill-fated epistle inhis hands.

  'No one saw you, Lygdus?' said Sejanus.

  'No one. The Centurion's room is empty, and this was lying on his couch.'

  'Warm water and open it.'

  The slave brought a cup of hot water, and, by its aid, he softened the waxand removed the thread in a most dexterous manner, which bore strongevidence that it was not the first time such a task had been required ofhim.

  The handwriting was large and bold, but palpably disguised. The keen eyeswho perused it were easily assured of that.

  'I fancy we have seen something like the turn of these characters before,'said Afer drily; 'the varnish is very thinly laid on.'

  The epistle was addressed to L. Martialis, Centurion, Villa Jovis. Theyopened it and read:--

  'One who has braved discomfort and peril desires to see you, Centurion. Close by the path which leads down to the southern landing there is a white rock. I shall await you there at nightfall. As you have a heart do not fail me!'

  They looked at each other, and the Prefect broke into a laugh, which was,however, forced and disgusted. The knight smiled inwardly.

  'There!' uttered Sejanus, 'I told you I knew not. I am right and you arewrong. It is only thus one can have the chance, sometimes, to fathom whatis lowermost in the mind of a woman. She is in love with Martialis! Whowould have dreamt of it? A mere Centurion to ensnare the proud goddess!'

  'It is, at the least, very extraordinary; but it does not follow that sheis bitten with this soldier.'

  'It is so likely that I accept the construction very easily.'

  'There is one comfort; it may lead to fratricide,' muttered Afer.

  'What do you say, Afer?' asked the Prefect.

  'I say it is a bitter pill for the other brother.'

  'Humph!' said his patron, too sulky in his wounded self
-conceit to careabout anybody else.

  He clapped his hands for Lygdus, and ordered him to restore the tablets totheir former state, in readiness for their owner.

  'Come, we can go now. There is one thing certain, that we must besomewhere in the close vicinity of that same white rock this night.'