in
Marius's keeping. For with all his faults Marius had a soldier's honor,
and could guard what was given to his charge. Forthwith, then, Eudemius
began to lay silent plans; to scheme indirectly, with cautious skill. It
was a new game for him; he went about it much as one ruler who seeks
alliance, for political ends, with a neighboring kingdom. He was
entirely consistent in his course; no thought of his daughter's desires
or wishes moved him--even no thought as to whether or not she had
desires or wishes on the subject. Nor did he consider the personal
inclinations of Marius himself. The alliance would mean much for him,
saving only for one thing--a thing which yet might override all
advantages. This was where Eudemius considered all his skill and finesse
would be needed.

At first Eudemius mentioned this, the desire of his heart, to no living
soul. He took Marius with him over his estates on his tours of
inspection, tours become unexpectedly frequent; he took pains to have
him present when overseers came with long tax-lists and rent-rolls to
render account to their lord. Marius saw himself surrounded with every
luxury art could devise and skill could execute, not as though brought
forth for some occasion, but quite plainly in everyday use and service.
Life, eased for him from all exertion by the unseen hands of many
slaves, became a dream of indolence and content. Horses, grooms, slaves,
were at his disposal; no wish of his, however lightly uttered, but was
unostentatiously fulfilled. In the midst of all this he was left with no
sense that it was done with a view to impress upon him the magnificence
of the villa and the villa's lord. He took it as he was intended to take
it, and as it was, as a matter of course, since all his life he had been
accustomed to wealth and the luxury it might bring. And, being so
accustomed, he was able to appreciate justly the amount of money it must
take to maintain such an establishment in such a style. He listened to
the reports of overseers and stewards, all unaware that he was meant to
do so; by degrees his own and his father's fortunes came to seem by
contrast mean and small. He fell readily enough into ways which,
reasonable for Eudemius, were extravagant for him. But, in spite of his
inclinations toward the life sybaritic, it was plain that he had no
intention of getting himself in debt to Eudemius in any shape or form.
When Eudemius judged the time to be ripe, he brought Varia upon