CHAPTER I
THE LISTENING SLAVE
[Initial W]
Wounded, vanquished, transferred from his kind master, and farther fromliberty than ever, Esca's was now indeed a pitiable lot. The tribune,entitled by the very terms of his wager to the life and person of hisantagonist, was not the man to forego this advantage by any act ofuncalled-for generosity. In the Briton he believed he now possessed a toolto use with effect, in furtherance of a work which the seductive image ofValeria rendered every day more engrossing; an auxiliary by whose aid hemight eventually stand first in the good graces of the only woman who hadever obtained a mastery over his unyielding disposition and selfish heart.None the more on this account did he cherish the captive, nor alleviatehis condition as a slave. From the effects of his injury, Esca could notbe put to any harder kinds of labour, but in all menial offices, howeverdegrading, he was compelled to take his share. Different, indeed, was hiscondition here from what it had been in the service of the high-mindedLicinius, and bitterly did he feel the exchange.
Submitting to sarcasm, insult, continued ill-treatment, and annoyance, thenoble barbarian would have failed under the trial, had it not been for afew well-remembered words, on the truth of which Calchas had so ofteninsisted, and in which (for when were human thoughts without an earthlyleavening?) Mariamne seemed to cherish an implicit belief. Those wordsbreathed hope and consolation under the very worst misfortunes that lifecould offer; and Esca suffered on, very silent, and tolerably patient,although, perhaps, there was a fiercer fire smouldering in his breast thanwould have been approved by his venerable monitor--a fire that only waitedoccasion to blaze out all the more dangerously for being thus forciblysuppressed.
With a malicious pleasure, natural to his disposition, Placidus compelledthe Briton to perform several domestic offices which brought him about hisperson. It flattered the tribune's vanity to have continually before hiseyes the athletic frame he was so proud to have overcome; and it pleasedhim that his friends, guests, and clients should be thus led to converseupon his late encounter, which had created no small gossip in thefashionable world of Rome. It happened, then, that Esca, while preparinghis master's bath, was startled to hear the name that was never long outof his own thoughts spoken in accents of caution and secrecy by thetribune himself, who was in the adjoining apartment, holding closeconsultation with Hippias the fencing-master and the two freedmen,Damasippus and Oarses. All were obviously interested in the subject underdiscussion, and, believing themselves safe from eaves-droppers, spokeenergetically, though in tones somewhat lower than their wont.
He started, and the blood ebbed painfully from his heart. "Mariamne!" yes,the word was again repeated, and while Oarses said something in a whisper,he could clearly distinguish the tribune's low mocking laugh. It was plainthey were unaware of his presence; and, indeed, it was at an earlier hourthan usual that he had made ready the unguents, perfumes, strigil, andother appliances indispensable to the luxurious ablutions of a Romanpatrician. The bathroom was inside the favourite apartment of Placidus,where he was now holding counsel, and could only be entered through thelatter, from which it was separated by a heavy velvet curtain. Esca,surrounded by the materials of the toilet, had been sitting for a longertime than he knew, lost in thought, until aroused by the mention ofMariamne's name. Thus it was that the four others believed the bathroomempty, and their conversation unheard.
Anxious and excited, the Briton scarcely dared to draw his breath, butcrept cautiously behind the folds of the heavy curtain, and listenedattentively. The tribune was walking to and fro with the restless motionsand stealthy gait of a tiger in its cage. Hippias, seated at his ease upona couch, was examining the device of a breastplate, with his usual air ofgood-humoured superiority; and Damasippus, appealing with admiring looksto Oarses, who responded in kind, seemed to endorse, as it were, with adependant's mute approval, the opinions and observations of his patron.
"Two-thirds of the legions have already come over," said Placidus, rapidlyenumerating the forces on which Vespasian's party could count. "In Spain,in Gaul, in Britain, the soldiers have declared openly against Vitellius.The surrender of Cremona can no longer be concealed from the meanestpopulace. Alexandria, the granary of the empire, has fallen into the handsof Vespasian. Those dusky knaves, thy countrymen, Oarses, will see usstarve, ere they send us supplies under the present dynasty; and think yeour greasy plebeians here will endure the girdle of famine, thus drawntighter, day by day, round their luxurious paunches? The fleet at Misenumwas secured long ago, but the news that Caesar could not count upon asingle galley in blue water only reached the capital to-day. Then the oldPraetorians are ripe for mischief; you may trust them never to forget norto forgive the disgrace of last year, when the chosen band was broke,dismissed, and, worst of all, deprived of rations and pay; I tell thee,Hippias, those angry veterans are ready to take the town withoutassistance, and put old and young to the sword. Fail! it is impossible wecan fail; the new party outnumbers the old by ten to one!"
"You have told off a formidable list," replied Hippias quietly; "I cannotsee that you are in need of any further help from me or mine."
Placidus shot a sharp questioning glance at the fencing-master, andresumed--
"Half the numbers that have given in their adhesion to Vespasian wouldserve to put my chariot-boy on the throne; Automedon's long curls might bebound by a diadem to-morrow, were he the favourite of the hour, so far asRome is concerned. You know what the masses are, my Hippias, for it isyour trade to pander to their tastes, and rouse their enthusiasm. It istrue that the great general is, at this moment, virtually ruler of theempire, but a pebble might turn the tide in the capital. I would not trustVespasian's own son, young and dissipated as he is, could he but make asnatch at the reins with any hope of holding them firmly when once withinhis grasp. Titus Flavius Domitian might be emperor to-morrow, if he wouldbe satisfied to wear the purple but for a week, and then make room forsomeone else. Nay, the people are fickle enough to be capable of turninground at any moment, and retaining our present admirable ruler on thethrone. Rome must be coerced, my Hippias; the barbers, and cobblers, andwater-carriers must be kept down and intimidated; if need be, we must cuta few garlic-breathing throats. It may be necessary to remove Caesarhimself, lest the reactionary feeling should burst out again, and weshould find ourselves left with nothing for our pains, but the choice of acup of poison, a gasp in a halter, or three inches of steel. We _must_succeed this time, for not a man need hope for pardon if Caesar isthoroughly frightened. Hippias, there must be no half-measures now!"
"Well said!" exclaimed the freedmen in a breath, with very pale faces,nevertheless, and an enthusiasm obviously somewhat against the grain.
Hippias looked quietly up from the breastplate resting on his lap.
"There will be shows," said he, "and blood flowing like water in thecircus, whoever wears the purple. While Rome stands, the gladiator neednever want for bread."
"Now you speak like a man of sense," replied the tribune, in the sametone; "for after all, the whole matter resolves itself into a merequestion of money. The shows are tolerably lucrative, at least to theircontriver, but it takes many a festival ere the sesterces count by tens ofthousands; and Hippias loves luxury and wine, and women too--nay, deny itnot, my comely hero; and if the Family and their trainer could be hired ata fair price, for an hour's work or so, why they need never enter thearena again, save as spectators; nay, poorer men than their chief might behave sat in the equestrian rows, ere now."
"You want to hire my chickens and myself for a forlorn hope," retortedHippias impatiently. "Better say so at once, and be plain with me."
"It is even so," resumed Placidus, with an assumption of extreme candour."For real work I have few I can depend upon but the old Praetorians; andthough they stick at nothing, there are hardly enough of them for mypurpose. With a chosen two hundred of thine, my dealer in heroes, I couldc
ommand Rome for twenty-four hours; and when Placidus soars into the sky,he carries Hippias on his wings. Speak out; thy terms are high, but such agame as ours is not played for a handful of pebbles or a few brassfarthings. What is the price, man by man?"
"You would require two hundred of them," observed the other reflectively."Five thousand sesterces(11) a man, and his freedom, which would come tonearly as much more."
"The killed not to count, of course," bargained the tribune.
"Of course not," repeated Hippias. "Listen, most illustrious; I will takeall chances, and supply the best men I have, for eight thousand a-head.Two hundred swordsmen who would take Pluto by the beard without a scruple,if I only lifted my hand. Lads who can hold their own against thrice theirnumber of any legion that was ever drilled. They are ready at two hours'notice."
He was speaking truth, for Hippias was honest enough in his own particularline. Amongst the thousands who owed their professional standing, and thevery bread they ate, to the celebrated fencing-master, it was no hard taskto select a company of dare-devils, such as he described, who would desireno better sport than to see their native city in flames, with the streetsknee-deep in blood and wine, while they put men, women, and childrenindiscriminately to the sword. The tribune's eye brightened, as he thoughtof the fierce work he could accomplish with such tools as these ready tohis hand.
"Keep them for me, from to-day," he answered, looking round the apartment,as though to assure himself that he was only heard by those in hisconfidence. "My plan cannot but succeed if we only observe common secrecyand caution. Ten picked men, and thyself, my Hippias, I bid to sup with mehere, the rest of the band shall be distributed by twenties amongst thedifferent streets opening on the palace, preserving their communicationthus: one man at a time must continually pass from each post to the next,until every twenty has been changed. This secures us from treachery, andwill keep our cut-throats on the alert. At a given signal, all are toconverge on the middle garden-gate, which will be found open. Then theymay lead the old Praetorians to the attack, and take the palace itself byassault, in defiance of any resistance, however desperate, that can bemade. The German guard are stubborn dogs, and must be put to the sworddirectly the outer hall is gained. I would not have them burn down thepalace if they can help it; but when they have done _my_ work, they arewelcome to all they can carry out of it on their backs, and you may tellthem so."
Hippias noted in his own mind this additional incentive with considerablesatisfaction. After a moment's pause, he looked fixedly in the tribune'sface, and inquired--
"How would you wish your guests armed for the supper-party? Shall we bringour knives with us, kind host?"
Placidus flushed a dark red, and then grew pale. He averted his eyes fromHippias, while he answered--
"There are few weapons so true as the short two-edged sword. There will bework for our brave little party inside the palace, of which we must makeno bungling. Is it such a grave matter, my Hippias, to slay a fat oldman?" he added inquiringly.
The other's face assumed an expression of intense disgust.
"Nay," said he, "I will have no murder done in cold blood. As muchfighting as you please, in the way of business, but we are no hiredassassins, my men and I. To put one Caesar off the throne, and another on,is a pretty night's amusement enough, and I have no objection to it; butto take an old man out of his bed, even though he be an emperor, and slayhim as you slay a fat sheep, I'll none of it. Send for a butcher, tribune;this is no trade of ours!"
Placidus bit his lip, and seemed to think profoundly for a moment, thenhis brow cleared, and he resumed with a light laugh.
"Far be it from me to offend a gladiator's scruples. I know the morals ofthe Family, and respect their prejudices. Half the money shall be in yourhands within an hour; the rest shall be paid when the job is done. I thinkwe understand each other well enough. Is it a bargain, Hippias? Can Idepend upon you?"
The fencing-master was not yet satisfied.
"About the guests," he asked sternly; "how are we to pay for our supper?"
Placidus clapped him on the shoulder, with a jovial laugh.
"I will be frank with thee," said he, "old comrade. Why should there besecrets between thee and me? We go from my supper-table to the palace. Weenter with the storming-party. I know the private apartments of theEmperor. I can lead our little band direct to the royal presence. Here wewill rally round Vitellius, and take his sacred person into our charge.Hippias, I will make it ten thousand sesterces a man, for each of the ten,and thou shalt name thine own price for thine own services. But theEmperor must not escape. Dost thou understand me now?"
"I like it not," replied the other; "but the price is fair enough, and mymen must live. I would it could be so arranged that some resistance mightbe made in the palace; you slay a man so much easier with his helmet onand his sword in his hand!"
"Pooh! prejudice!" laughed the tribune. "Professional fancies that springfrom thy coarse material trade. Blood leaves no more stain than wine. Youand I have spilt enough of both in our time. What matter, a throat cut ora cracked flagon of Falernian? Dash a pitcher of water over a marble floorlike this, and you wash away the signs of both at once. Said I not well,Damasippus? Why, what ails thee, man? Thy face has turned as white as thygown!"
Damasippus, indeed, whose eyes were fixed upon the floor to which hispatron had just alluded, presented, at this juncture, an appearance ofintense terror and amazement. The freedman's mouth was open, his cheekswere deadly pale, and his very hair seemed to bristle with dismay.Pointing a shaking finger to the slabs of marble at his feet, he couldonly stammer out in broken accents: "May the gods avert the omen!" overand over again.
The others, following the direction of his gaze, were no less astonishedto see a narrow stream of crimson winding over the smooth white floor, asthough the very stones protested against the tribune's reckless andinhuman sentiments. For an instant all stood motionless, then Placidus,leaping at the velvet curtain, tore it fiercely open, and discovered thecause of the phenomenon.
Listening attentively for some further mention of the name that had rousedhis whole being, not a syllable of the foregoing conversation had beenlost upon Esca, who, kneeling on one knee, with his wounded foot bentunder him, and his ear applied close to the heavy folds of the curtain,had never moved a hair's-breadth from his attitude of fixed and absorbingattention. In this constrained position, the wound in his foot, which wasnot yet healed over, had opened afresh, and though he was himselfunconscious of all but the cruel and treacherous scheme he overheard, itbled so freely that a dark stream stole gradually beneath the curtains,and crept gently along the marble to the very feet of the horror-strickenDamasippus.
Esca sprang to his full height; in that moment his blood curdled, as ithad done when he was down upon the sand, with his enemy's eye glaring onhim through the cruel net. He knew the tribune, and he felt there was nohope. The latter laughed loud and long. It was his way of covering alldisagreeable emotions, but it boded no good to the object of his mirth.When Esca heard that laugh he looked anxiously about him as though to seeka weapon. What was the use? He stood wounded and defenceless in the powerof four reckless men, of whom two were armed.
"Hold him!" exclaimed Placidus to his freedmen, drawing at the same time ashort two-edged sword from its sheath. "It is unfortunate for thebarbarian that he has learned our language. The necessity is disagreeable,but there is only one way of ensuring silence. My bath, too, is prepared,so I can spare him for to-day, and my freedmen will see that his place issupplied by to-morrow. Hold him, cowards! I say; do you fear that he willbite you?"
Neither Damasippus nor Oarses, however, seemed much inclined to grapplewith the stalwart Briton. Wounded and outnumbered as he was, without achance of rescue or escape, there was yet a defiant carriage of the head,a fierce glare in the eye, that warned the freedmen to keep hands off himas long as they could. They looked at each other irresolutely, and shrankfrom the patron's glance. That moment's hesitation saved him. H
ippias, whoregarded every six feet of manhood with a brave heart inside it as his ownpeculiar property, had besides a kindly feeling for his old pupil. He puthis muscular frame between the master and the slave.
"Give him a day or two, tribune," said he carelessly. "I can find a betteruse for him than to cut his throat here on this clean white floor, and anequally safe one in the end, you may be sure."
"Impossible, fool!" answered Placidus angrily. "He has heard enough todestroy every hair on the head of each of us. He must never leave thisroom alive!"
"Only twenty-four hours," pleaded the fencing-master, who well knew howmuch at that time in Rome a day might bring forth. "Put him in ward asclose as you will, but let him live till to-morrow. Hippias asks it as afavour to himself, and you may not like to be refused by him, when it is_your_ turn. What if I should say 'No' in the private apartments of thepalace? Come, let us make a compromise."
The tribune reflected for a moment. Then striking his right hand into thatof Hippias--
"Agreed," said he. "Twenty-four hours' grace on one side, and the sharpestblade in Rome at my disposal on the other. Ho! Damasippus, call some of mypeople in. Bid them put the new collar on the slave, and chain him to themiddle pillar in the inner court."
The order was punctually obeyed, and Esca found himself a helplessprisoner, burdened with a secret that might save the empire, and withmaddening apprehensions on behalf of Mariamne tearing at his heart.