ho belonged to the estate and
might not be sold without it. Of the slaves those who had died were
accounted for; those who had been resold, or exchanged, or
manumitted,--all save two.

"These, lord," said Hito, without a change of face, "are two of whom I
had it in mind to speak these many months ago. But when all things were
to be prepared, there was no time. This woman, Eldris, did attempt
escape; for what reason is not known. I gave command to pursue her. This
was done. But when the men found her, she was dead; it is to be thought
of cold and hunger. So she was put away. Let not my lord think that his
servant was neglectful; we recaptured her, but she was dead. This one,
Nicanor, was committed to the dungeons by order of our lord Marius; it
is now nearly eight months ago. And for what reason is not known either.
He is there still, since no further command hath been received regarding
him. He was taken with a madness, and well-nigh killed my lord's slave.
I would have put him to the rack, but my lord Marius said nay, that he
was to be held until wanted. This was done." Lies and truth mingled on
his tongue like oil and honey.

Marius, sitting at Eudemius's elbow, looked up.

"I remember the fellow," he said, searching his memory. "I meant to
bring him to thy notice, that thou shouldst deal with him, and as I
live, I forgot him. He it was who sought Lady Varia in her garden and
was found by Marcus, whom you killed because he would not betray. But it
appears, from what I could learn of Varia since then, that the man did
no harm--was rather a poor fool telling crazy tales to which she
listened as a child. It was a whim of Varia's, nothing more. And Nerissa
doth swear that always she was within sight and hearing of the
two,--though whether she says this to free her own skirts from blame, I
know not,--and that all which was said and done was with her knowledge,
for the humoring of her lady. So that the fellow hath done no actual
wrong, it would seem."

From the high pinnacle of his power he could afford to be
indifferent--and he and Eudemius had weightier matters than a slave's
fate to settle.

"Hath he the privilege of trial?" Eudemius asked. "In what degree is he
slave?"

"Absolute!" said Hito, promptly. "Neither colonus nor casarius nor the
son of such is he, nor even _esne_, whose trade might win him
privileges."

"Then send him to the mines," said Eudemius, with indifference. "If he
hath done nothing, he cann