Theodosius--Greeting and Good-bye!_"

'"Enough," said young Amal; "there is your proof! You must join us now!"

'Pertinax looked long and silently at him, till that fair man blushed
like a girl. Then read Pertinax:--

'"_I have joyfully done much evil in my life to those who have wished me
evil, but if ever I did any evil to you two I repent, and I ask your
forgiveness. The three mules which I strove to drive have torn me in
pieces as your Father prophesied. The naked swords wait at the tent door
to give me the death I gave to Gratian. Therefore I, your General and
your emperor, send you free and honourable dismissal from my service,
which you entered, not for money or office, but, as it makes me warm to
believe, because you loved me!_"

'"By the Light of the Sun," Amal broke in. "This was in some sort a Man!
We may have been mistaken in his servants!"

'And Pertinax read on: "_You gave me the time for which I asked. If I
have failed to use it, do not lament. We have gambled very splendidly
against the Gods, but they hold weighted dice, and I must pay the
forfeit. Remember, I have been; but Rome is; and Rome will be. Tell
Pertinax his Mother is in safety at Nicaea, and her monies are in charge
of the Prefect at Antipolis. Make my remembrances to your Father and to
your Mother, whose friendship was great gain to me. Give also to my
little Picts and to the Winged Hats such messages as their thick heads
can understand. I would have sent you three Legions this very day if all
had gone aright. Do not forget me. We have worked together. Farewell!
Farewell! Farewell!_"

'Now, that was my Emperor's last letter.' (The children heard the
parchment crackle as Parnesius returned it to its place.)

'"I was mistaken," said Amal. "The servants of such a man will sell
nothing except over the sword. I am glad of it." He held out his hand to
me.

'"But Maximus has given you your dismissal," said an elder. "You are
certainly free to serve--or to rule--whom you please. Join--do not
follow--join us!"

'"We thank you," said Pertinax. "But Maximus tells us to give you such
messages as--pardon me, but I use his words--your thick heads can
understand." He pointed through the door to the foot of a catapult wound
up.

'"We understand," said an elder. "The Wall must be won at a price?"

'"It grieves me," said Pertinax, laughing, "but so it must be won," and
he gave them of our best Southern wine.

'They drank, and wiped their yellow