CHAPTER IV.
Suspicion was a weed which clothed the face of the island of Capreae. Itpenetrated every nook of hill, cavern, or grove. The very air was chargedwith its essence, as it is loaded with electricity at the time of athunderstorm. Every tiny leaf that nestled to the ground was the peeringeye of an Argus. Little or nothing could hope to pass unnoticed within thenarrow circuit of those sea-girt rocks. There was an ear for each sayingworth repeating, an eye for each movement worth noting, and all finallyflowed into the channel which led to the dark, deep mind of Caesar. To theready ear of the ambitious, plotting Prefect also, in his villa ofMercury, perched on the conical hill overlooking the Marina, themysterious whisperings and rumours of the isle did not fail to float. Whathope then was there of Plautia remaining secret?
The cottage of Tucca became the most curiously regarded spot in Capreae,before the dawn of the morning following the circumstances related in thelast chapter. Invisible eyes watched it, so that not even a movement ofthe ancient cur, which lay before the door, was missed, nor the flight ofa pigeon from the flock which perched on the roof.
The house was a small one almost facing the south, and, consequently,looking nearly full upon the sea. With its left eye, as it were, it lookedacross to the town of Capreae and the face of the island sloping up to theeastern cliffs. To the right hand there was no path, nor yet foothold, foranything but a bird of the air, and a few yards further on, the cragsdescended sheer into the sea. These crags rose up above the house, formingthe side of the hill, upon which gleamed, above, the walls of the villa ofMars. Thus, it may be seen that the dwelling of Tucca had, for somereason, been perched as far round the outside, seaward face of the hill aspossible.
Tucca, the owner and occupier of this abode, was an old man, who livedalone with his wife. He was a small man, with a head nearly bald, and hadsharp features, withered and prodigiously wrinkled. He was evidently veryaged, but of that spare, wiry toughness of body which best defies time. Hedid not seem to be scrupulously clean in person. His garments might havebeen worn night and day for months, by their greasy surfaces and obstinatecreases, whilst the leather-like folds of his face had the appearance ofbeing engrained with dirt. He derived his livelihood from wine-growing andotherwise tilling the ground, and his arduous and lifelong toil had hadthe effect of imparting a stoop to his slight dried-up frame. His tenementstretched from the left of his house along the path which led to the town,and his vines, likewise, reached upward, draping the hillside, as far assufficient soil could be gathered together to give them sustenance.
Tigellinus had made, no doubt, the best choice possible for the purposerequired, when he led the beautiful young Roman lady hither to this spot,hidden away half round a hill, on the brink of the cliffs, as far as ahuman foot could venture; but, as no previous notice had been made to itsresident, of the unexpected honour about to be conferred upon him, theancient husbandman was, as might be expected, considerably startled. A fewwhispered words from Tigellinus in his ear, however, charmed away theastonished and ill-tempered expression of his restless, mistrustful eyes,and he became readiness, compliance, and amiability itself. The haughtyand even scornful bearing of his visitor, as she glanced around herlodging, and scanned him from head to foot, might seem to have warmed hisold heart with gratefulness, so deep was his obeisance, and so great wasthe grimace of joy with which he contorted his face. His wife, as lean andwithered as himself, had a hard time of it for a space; but, finally, allarrangements were made for the comfortable bestowment of the visitors, andthe household sank into sleep and oblivion.
The following morning, as day was breaking, Tucca came out of his houseinto the raw air. Water was an element he did not favour at any time, butmore particularly thus early. Hence he proceeded to his work in a state ofsemi-wakefulness. A little grove of fruit trees covered the left flank ofthe house, and through this he directed his steps, more by instinct thandue perception of where he was going. In the midst there was an arbour, orsummer-house, in a state of bad repair, being a structure designed forornament and ease, with which Tucca had no sympathy whatever. Its frame,in fact, was mainly held together by the twining creepers, which thicklyenwrapped it, and almost hid the doorway from view. As the old husbandmanpassed close by this, an arm was thrust forth from amid the creepers, andthe hand thereof grasped him by the shoulder. Tucca, startled out of hiscomatose state, gave vent to a yelp of surprise, very largely mixed withfear, but it was lost within the gloom of the arbour whither he wasdragged.
'Good morrow, Tucca; you are out betimes; you deserve to be as rich aspeople say you are.'
Tucca gazed at his captor; but the gloom, combined with his confusedfaculties, prevented him from making anything out save a figure clothed ina long cloak and peaked hood, or burnoose, which well-nigh enveloped theface as well as the head.
'Who are you and what do you want?' was the natural response of the wine-grower.
'I am one you know, and I am here to see you on particular business.'
'You may be some one I know, but this is a strange time and a strangeplace to lie in wait; I don't like the look of it myself,' was the short,crusty answer. 'Come into the daylight, such as it is, so far!'
'No,' replied the figure, holding him back; 'I prefer staying here untilwe have finished.'
'I ought to know your voice.'
'I told you that I am known to you.'
'Then why in the name of the furies do you not show me your face?'
'I will, gossip; but, first of all, a few words. You received two visitorslast night?'
'Eh!' said the old man, giving a start.
'I say you received two visitors last night--two women.'
Tucca kept his hand upon the handle of a knife stuck in his girdle, and heeyed his questioner keenly in silence for a moment, as if to think twicebefore he spoke.
'Well?' said the other sharply.
'It's none of your business whether I did or whether I did not--I'll nottell you.'
'You will have to tell me more than that--look, old man!'
Tucca's visitor stepped towards the doorway, where his face might meet thefast-increasing light, and he threw back the ample burnoose from his head.The ancient legs of the wine-grower shook beneath him. He became fullyawake; for the classic face of Zeno, the Emperor's steward, looked downupon him, as perfect and beautiful as if sculptured in tinted marble, butwith the cold, metallic eyes which were fatal to all accompanying grace.
'It is my worshipful Zeno!' exclaimed Tucca, with gestures of abjecthumility and apology. 'Pardon, noble Zeno; but how could your servant knowyou in this light and with that hood over your face--and with my eyestoo--seventy-five years old? But why come here so early in the cold? Comeinto--no, I mean--a--a--what can old Tucca do to serve your worship?'
'Thank you, Tucca. Had I thought fit to go into your house I would havedone so without an invitation, knowing your esteem and love for me. But,'continued Zeno, with a meaning smile, 'I knew it would not be convenientfor you, since you harbour guests beneath your roof. I thought it best tospeak with you out of doors first before I ran the chance of making myselfan intruder, unwelcome as it might be. Shall we go in now?'
'Well--ah--it is hardly fit to receive you--at this time of day--nothing inorder or----'
'No matter for that,' said Zeno, interrupting the stammering and confusedold man; 'I only want a seat and a draught of wine.'
'Then wait only one minute until I tell my wife, and she will straightenup and make tidy for your worship,' returned Tucca, turning to trot out ofthe arbour.
Zeno caught him by the arm.
'Not so fast,' said he; 'I have changed my mind. Old fool, did I not knowfor a surety that you had those I speak of within your house, your verymanner would have revealed it to me, as plainly as written parchmenttelling the same. Do you deny it?'
'Most worshipful----' began Tucca imploringly.
'Do you deny, I say?'
'Why do you ask me? What can it be to you?
' said the wine-grower, with ashow of resistance.
'To me--nothing!' responded the steward, with a grim smile; 'I am only oneof the tiger's paws to be stretched out at the tiger's will. It rests uponyou at present, Tucca, so be wise. I have come from the villa of Neptunethis morning straight.'
'Good Zeno, be easy with me, for you have dealt well with me so far,'whined the perplexed and terrified old man.
'You are not proceeding in the way most calculated to incline me to do so.Tell me!' said Zeno, pointing meaningly towards the house.
'I cannot--there is one as great in Capreae as Caesar--I dare not.'
'You will repent of that delusion when you find yourself, very shortly,about to be cast from one of the cliffs of Capreae. What's he that youcompare with Caesar? There is but one you can mean--is it the Prefect?'
Tucca hung his head and did not answer. Zeno thereby gained a littleinformation, which had the effect of giving him, at once, some morepersonal concern in the matter. To spy upon a probable arrangement of theformidable Prefect was a task unlooked for and likely to prove of someinterest.
'You are obstinate, Tucca, and you are simple and foolish to put theservant before his master. I might be disposed to leave you in a huff andallow you to take the consequences of your idiocy, but I will take morepains with you, and try and reason you out of your ideas. You live so muchout of the way here in this corner that you are ignorant of how thingsrun. Listen: last night a certain merchant, named Tigellinus, brought twofemales to your house, and there they are at this moment. It is folly foryou to deny it. You grow excellent wine, Tucca--I have bought it from youfor the Emperor's table, and the Emperor likes it. Caesar is a resident,and if you wish to continue his custom you had better do as I advise you;if not, you will assuredly have every drop of blood drawn out of your oldveins, as well as every quart of wine out of your cellars. The same fingerthat can do this can, equally as well, do the same to the most noblePrefect if sad necessity compelled. Do your duty to your ruler and patron,therefore, and rest easy.'
'You know what I know--I cannot tell you more,' said the husbandmandespairingly.
'Their names?'
'Before Jupiter, I know not.'
'I have also orders to dispense certain coins to those who make themselvesparticularly useful in this matter--it is surely best to please thestrongest party and be paid for it--at least my notions run that way.'
Zeno made a dull jingling of some money under his cloak, and marked, witha smile, the flash of the old man's eyes and the pricking up of his ears.
'Noble Zeno, you were ever liberal with me, but if I could serve youwithout----'
'It will be easily earned, Tucca; good pay, and never fear for your oldbones.'
'What, then, do you require?'
'To use your memory and duly relate to me anything that your visitors maysay loud enough for your ears to catch. If it be anything about theweather, or matters of equal importance, you need not trouble to store itup; but if there may be a chance remark or inquiry concerning any personor persons of any note in the island, you must truly bring the same to me,as I should like to hear it. You must, likewise, take notice of theirmovements, and everything which may be likely to throw a light upon thereason of their presence here. You see, therefore, Tucca, that your taskis of the easiest and lightest, and beyond suspicion--merely to keep youreyes and ears open.'
'And will you be at hand, or must I go to seek you at the palaces?'
'Inquire for Alexander at the little tavern of the Widow Paula, and youwill be told where to find me--you will remember to inquire for Alexander,old man?'
'For Alexander, noble Zeno.'
'Good; it is important. Now, by way of commencement, tell me the names ofthese women.'
'I swear by all the gods in heaven, Zeno, I do not know. They came and atea slight supper, such as we were able to put before them,--for we knew nomore than the dead that we were to have any visitors,--and then theyretired, and we have not seen them since. It is the truth, as I standhere!'
'Well, and what of their appearance? are they young?'
'Young, Zeno, and the mistress as beautiful as the sun.'
'Ah!' said Zeno, nodding, whilst a smile spread over his handsome face; 'Ithink there will nothing very serious spring out of this matter, althougha ten years' war did once arise on account of a woman. But, nevertheless,be vigilant.'
'I will be all ears and eyes.'
'And secret--do not ask impertinent questions, or you will spoil all.'
'Not one, noble Zeno.'
'Consider your next amphorae of wine as sold and delivered, at a pointabove the best price in Capreae.'
'Generous Zeno!' said Tucca, bending low.
'And for this,' rejoined the steward, artfully chinking the coins beneathhis cloak, 'we will settle when this business is over.'
'May it be soon; why they should pitch upon my house, and mix a harmlessman up with their women and their works, I know not--but I would they wereaway.'
'And so do I, Tucca, for this early morning watch does not agree with yourhumble servant.'
'But what safeguard can you offer me if he, for whom these people are incharge, should know that I play the spy on them?'
'He cannot know if you do only as I tell you; and if he does, leave therest to me.'
'Hermes guard me--I should be but the earthen pipkin between two brazenpots.'
The steward was looking cautiously through the leafy screen of the doorwaytowards the house. He started and said, 'Hasten, Tucca, look upon yourhousetop! There are these same mysterious beings gazing therefrom upon thelandmarks of the island and tasting the morning air--hasten to thehouse--they may want thee to ask thee this or that, it may be--there is achance--so go!'
'I will.'
'And hearken, Tucca, it is best to reckon up both sides of our bargain,'added Zeno, catching him by the arm for a moment; 'I rely upon your faithand have no reason to doubt it, being, as you are, in your right mind; butif you play me false from fear, or hope, or promise of what you wouldexpect to be greater in pay, as sure as you stand by me at this verymoment you shall suffer!'
'Dear Zeno and friend, I could never----'
'I think not, but if you do--in yonder villa of Jove, within the wallsthere, is more than one catapult--you shall be shot from the cliffs aleague into the sea, like a pebble from a sling. Go, and forget notAlexander at the tavern of Paula!'
The husbandman went back to his house, on the flat roof of which Plautiaand her maid were standing, taking the keen morning air and viewing thelandscape, as Zeno had said.
The old man shuffled about in view down below, and presently the voice ofPlautia hailed him and desired, or rather commanded, him to go up to her.
He did so, and the stoop in his small, withered body was doubled inhumility as he remained before her awaiting her pleasure. She lookedhaughtily down upon him, and the light of day did not improve hisappearance. The grease and the dirt-engrained wrinkles, somewhat softenedand mellowed by the lamplight of the night before, were as perceptible asonly daylight could make them. The finely-curved nose of Plautia waselevated at its tip, as much as it was capable of doing, as she surveyedher host in all his glory. She formed the most complete contrast possible.Her noble figure, large and erect, fronting his small, bent, insignificantframe; her dark piercing eyes and her glowing skin, fresh from the earlymorning toilet, and tinted with a yet richer bloom by the keen sea-breeze.It seemed to the ancient husbandman as if the glorious Juno herself haddescended on to the roof of his dwelling to survey the isle and seasleeping and silent in the gray light of dawn.
'I wish to tell you, old man,' she began abruptly, 'that you shall be wellpaid for our lodging here.'
'That I feel sure of, gracious lady,' replied the reverent Tucca.
'Your house is retired and not overlooked, and for that reason I comehere. We wish to be entirely unobserved. It is necessary that our presencehere be not known. Therefore you and your wife must refrain from prating asingle word thereof.
You understand?'
'Perfectly, lady, you may rest easy--we shall give neither word nor sign.'
'Good! if you do I would not stand in your shoes for all the island isworth. Now show me all that can be seen from where we stand--what is yonhouse on yon hill?--I have been in Capreae ere this, but I forget.'
She pointed across to the villa of Mercury, crowning the conical hillabove the Marina, on the other side of the valley. Tucca told her.
'And who dwells therein?' she inquired.
'The Prefect, who is betrothed to Livia, the Emperor's daughter-in-law--heis the greatest man in the Empire they say--he lives there at present. Butthe villa belongs to Caesar--like that one, and that, and that.' He pointedto the elevated summits around.
'The greatest man in the Empire,' she murmured, with a smile; 'and what ofCaesar?'
'He is even now over there,' explained Tucca, sweeping his grimy hand uptoward the towering heights behind them; 'he moves about from one place toanother. To-morrow may find him over there--as likely as not.'
She followed his pointing finger to the eastern cliff in the distance,where the white walls of the fortress peeped up against the sky.
'And that?' she inquired.
'Is the villa of Jove, of which he is the fondest. It is built in withhuge walls; it is full of guards and stores of provisions they say, andthe sea roars a thousand feet below.'
Tucca shuddered as he recalled the threat of Zeno.
'Full of guards, say you--do you know any of those same guards?'
'No, good lady; I have seen them, but I know none of them. They keep watchand ward over Caesar wherever he goes.'
'Are they Pretorians, think you?'
'Surely.'
'And they are lodged in yonder villa?'
'The bulk of them, yes.'
'What, up there?' said Plautia, looking thither earnestly.
Tucca nodded.
'And the Prefect--does his guard lodge with him?'
'I know not, lady; it is little I know of these great people.'
Plautia remained in thought for a minute, then she said, 'You must find mea messenger who will be trusty and secret--but no! You had better do myerrands--it would be safer.'
'As you wish, noble lady.'
'Come then, we will go down--we may be seen.'
'It would be safer--there may be curious eyes prying,' rejoined Tucca.