agreed to wait for me, if I was late," I shouted back to him. "I
agreed to wait for him; I keep my word. If you choose, we'll get out of
your way and let you pass on. We can catch up with you."
"Bah!" he roared. "No going it alone on a Sabine road for me! I'm tied to
you hand and foot. But this waiting in the rain is no fun! Did you notice
that man on horseback we passed on the road?"
"I did," I called back.
"Do you know who he is?"
"Never set eyes on him before," I replied.
"Do you know what he is?"
"No," I answered, "I do not. What is he, according to your conjecture?"
"I'm not depending on any conjectures," Tanno bellowed, "I know to a
certainty."
"Then tell us," I called.
"Not here!" cried Tanno. "I'll tell you later."
He pulled his head inside his litter.
We again stared up the crossroad. Nothing was in sight.
"It seems to me," Hirnio again addressed Murmex, "that not only your
father was a Nersian, but also Pacideianus and that I have heard that he
also was living in retirement at Nersae."
"He is yet," rejoined Murmex, laconically.
"Then you know him?" Hirnio queried.
"My mother," said Murmex, "is his sister."
"Your uncle!" cried Hirnio, "son to one of the two greatest retired
gladiators in Italy, nephew to the other! Living in the same town with
them! Did either of them ever teach you anything of sword play?"
"Both of them," said Murmex, "taught me everything they knew of sword
play, from the day I could hold a toy lath sword."
"Hercules!" I cried, "and what did they say of your proficiency?"
"My father with his last breath," said Murmex solemnly, "and my uncle
Pacideianus as he bade me farewell, told me that I am the best swordsman
alive."
"Why have you never," I asked, "tried your luck in the arena?"
"My father forbade me," Murmex explained. "He bade me wait. He trowed a
grown man was worth ten growing lads, and he said so and stuck to that. On
his death-bed he told me I was almost seasoned. After we buried him I felt
I could abide Nersae no longer. Uncle agreed with me that I had best
follow my instincts. I fare to Rome to seek my fortune as a swordsman on
the sand in the amphitheatres."
"You have fallen into good company," I said, "for I can bring you at once
to the Emperor's notice."
"I should be most grateful," said Murmex.
At that instant we heard an halloo from the road and saw a horseman appear
out of the mist, then a travelling carriage behind him.
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