against him by the Italians--in the hands of the logician Alexandros,
who is so zealous in our service. And as our Governor in Italy we name
the highly-deserving Prefect of Rome, Cornelius Cethegus Caesarius. Our
nephew Germanus, furnished with Imperial power, is answerable for your
transport to our fleet off Ariminum, whence Areobindos will take you to
Byzantium.'"

Germanus rose, and ordered all present, except Belisarius and Cethegus,
to leave the hall.

Then he descended from the throne, and went up to Belisarius, who was
now totally unconscious of what was going on around him. He stood
immovable, leaning his head and arm against a column, and staring at
the ground.

The Prince took his right hand.

"It pains me, Belisarius, to be the bearer of such a message. I
undertook it, because I thought that a friend would fulfil such an
errand more gently than any of the enemies who were eager to do it. But
I cannot deny that this last victory of yours cancels the fame of many
former ones. Never could I have expected such a game of lies from the
hero Belisarius! Cethegus begged that his report to the Emperor should
be laid before you. It is full of your praise. Here it is. I believe it
was the Empress who kindled the anger of Justinian against you. But you
do not hear----"

And he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the unfortunate man.
Belisarius shook it off.

"Let me alone, boy! You bring me--you bring me the true thanks of a
crowned head!"

Germanus drew himself up with dignity.

"Belisarius, you forget yourself, and who I am!"

"Oh no! I am a prisoner, and you are my gaoler. I will go at once on
board your ship--only spare me chains and fetters."

It was very late before the Prefect could get away from the Prince, who
spoke to him with the greatest frankness on state affairs and his own
personal wishes.

As soon as Cethegus was alone in his rooms, which had also been
appointed to him in the palace, he hastened to read the letter which
Lucius Licinius had brought from the Empress. It ran thus:

"You have conquered, Cethegus. As I read your epistle I thought of old
times, when your letters to Theodora, written in the same cipher, did
not talk of statesmanship and warfare, but of kisses and roses----"

"She must always remind me of that!" cried the Prefect, interrupting
his perusal of the letter.

"But even in this letter I recognise the irresistible intellect that,
more even than your youthful b