knew me again.

"Why," he cried, in the Latin tongue, to one who came with him, "this is
the fellow who wrestled yesterday with the Nubian gladiator, that same
who now howls for his lost hand underneath my window. Curses on the
black brute! I had a bet upon him for the games! I have backed him
against Caius, and now he'll never fight again, and I must lose my
money, all through this astrologer. What is it thou sayest?--thou hast
business with the Lady Charmion? Nay, then, that settles it. I will
not let thee through. Fellow, I worship the Lady Charmion--ay, we all
worship her, though she gives us more slaps than sighs. And dost thou
think that we will suffer an astrologer with such eyes and such a chest
as thine to cut in the game?--by Bacchus, no! She must come out to keep
the tryst, for in thou shalt not go."

"Sir," I said humbly and yet with dignity, "I pray that a message may be
sent to the Lady Charmion, for my business will not brook delay."

"Ye Gods!" answered the fool, "whom have we here that he cannot wait? A
Caesar in disguise? Nay, be off--be off! if thou wouldst not learn how a
spear-prick feels behind."

"Nay," put in the other officer, "he is an astrologer; make him
prophesy--make him play tricks."

"Ay," cried the others who had sauntered up, "let the fellow show his
art. If he is a magician he can pass the gates, Paulus or no Paulus."

"Right willingly, good Sirs," I answered; for I saw no other means of
entering. "Wilt thou, my young and noble Lord"--and I addressed him who
was with Paulus--"suffer that I look thee in the eyes; perhaps I may
read what is written there?"

"Right," answered the youth; "but I wish that the Lady Charmion was the
sorceress. I would stare her out of countenance, I warrant."

I took him by the hand and gazed deep into his eyes. "I see," I said, "a
field of battle at night, and about it bodies stretched--among them is
_thy_ body, and a hyena tears its throat. Most noble Sir, thou shalt die
by sword-thrusts within a year."

"By Bacchus!" said the youth, turning white to the gills, "thou art
an ill-omened sorcerer!" And he slunk off--shortly afterwards, as it
chanced, to meet this very fate. For he was sent on service and slain in
Cyprus.

"Now for thee, great Captain!" I said, speaking to Paulus. "I will show
thee how I will pass those gates without thy leave--ay, and draw thee
through them after me. Be pleased to fix thy princely gaze upon the
point of this wand