A Struggle for Rome, v. 3

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER VII.

  The Emperor ordered the Empress and Narses to follow him to his room.

  When they reached it, he embraced his wife with great tenderness,unembarrassed by the presence of a witness.

  "How your enthusiasm rejoices and exalts me!" he exclaimed. "I am proudof such a wife. How beautiful you were, O Theodora, in your nobleindignation. How can I reward you! Choose any favour, any sign of mygratitude, my best and truest councillor and co-ruler?"

  "If I, a weak woman, dare indeed believe that I may share your thoughtsand plans in this war, then confide in me, and tell me how you intendto conduct it."

  "I am resolved to send Belisarius again to Italy. But not alone. Histrifling with a crown has made me wary."

  "Then I beg the favour of being allowed to propose a secondgeneral.--Narses," she continued, before Justinian could speak, "willyou be the other?"

  She wished to make it impossible for him to go.

  "No, I thank you," Narses answered bitterly. "You know that I am astubborn and ill-tempered horse; I cannot endure to draw together withanother. A marshal's staff and a wife, Justinian, should be kept on thesame condition."

  "How?"

  "Alone, or not at all."

  "Then _you_ not at all," answered Justinian with vexation. "You must notimagine that you are indispensable, magister militum."

  "No one on earth is so, Justinian. With all my heart! Send greatBelisarius again! He may try his luck for the third time in thatcountry, where laurels grow so thickly. My turn will come later. I amno doubt unnecessary here as a witness of your domestic felicity, andat home, opposite to my sickbed, stands a map of the Italian roads.Allow me to continue my study of it. It is more interesting than themap of our Persian frontier. One piece of advice. You will ultimatelybe obliged to send Narses to Italy. The sooner you send him the moreyou will spare yourself defeat, vexation, and money. And if gout orthat wretched epilepsy should carry Narses off before King Totila liesupon his shield, who then will conquer Italy for you? You believe inprophecy. In Italy there runs a saying: 'T beats B, N beats T.'"

  "Does that mean, perhaps, that Theodora beat Belisarius, and Narsesbeats Theodora?" asked the Empress mockingly.

  "That is not _my_ interpretation of the riddle; it is yours. But Iaccept it. Do you know which was the wisest of your many laws, OJustinian?"

  "Well?"

  "That which made death the punishment of all accusations against theEmpress, for it was the only way in which you could keep her." And heleft the room.

  "The insolent fellow!" cried Theodora, sending a venomous look afterhim. "He dares to threaten! When Belisarius has once been renderedharmless, Narses must quickly follow."

  "But meanwhile we need them both," said Justinian. "Do you reallypropose, as the second general to be sent to Italy, the man whopersuaded us to reject the proposals of Cassiodorus?"

  "The same."

  "But my distrust of that ambitious man has since then become stronger."

  "Have you then forgotten," retorted Theodora, "who revealed theintentions of Silverius? Who was the first to warn you of Belisarius'sdangerous game?"

  "But he now frequents the company of the men who are conspiring againstme!"

  "Yes; but, O Justinian, it is by my order, as their destroyer."

  "Indeed! But if he is also deceiving you?"

  "Will you believe him and me, and send him to Italy, if he brings theconspirators to your feet in chains to-morrow, and amongst them theirunknown chief?"

  "I already know who it is; it is Photius, the freedman of Belisarius."

  "No, Justinian; it is he whom you would again send to Italy if I didnot warn you: Belisarius himself!"

  The Emperor grew pale, and grasped the arm of his chair. "Will you nowbelieve in that wonderful Roman's devotion, and send him to Italy withyour army, instead of Belisarius?"

  "Everything, everything!" said Justinian. "Belisarius, then, is reallya traitor! Then we must make haste! Let us act at once."

  "I have already acted, Justinian. My net is cast, and no one canescape. Give me full power to draw it close."

  The Emperor nodded acquiescence.

  And passing through the curtains, Theodora said to the door-keeper:

  "Fetch Cethegus, the Prefect of Rome, from his house, and take him tomy room."