e block, his back turned to the door, his head supported on his
hands. He gives me no answer when I speak to him. Generally he does not
even move; I believe grief and pain have stupefied him. But to-day,
when I handed him the wine in the wooden cup and said, 'Drink, dear
sir; it comes from true friends,' he looked up. Ah, his look was so
sorrowful, as sad as death! He drank deeply, and bowed his head
thankfully, and gave such a sigh, that it cut me to the heart."

Rauthgundis covered her eyes with her hand.

"God knows what horrid thing that man means to do to him!" the old man
murmured to himself.

"What sayest thou?"

"I say that you must eat and drink well, or else you will lose your
strength; and you will need it before long, poor woman!"

"I shall have strength enough!"

"Then take at least a cup of wine."

"Of this wine? No, it is all for him!"

And she went back into the inner chamber, where she again took her old
place.

"The flask will last some time," old Dromon said to himself; "but we
must save him soon, if he is to be saved at all. There comes Wachis.
May he bring good news, else----"

Wachis entered. Since his visit to the Queen he had exchanged his steel
cap and mantle for clothes borrowed from Dromon.

"I bring good news!" he cried, as he entered. "But where were you an
hour ago? I knocked in vain."

"We had both gone out to buy wine."

"To be sure; that is the reason why the whole room smells so sweet.
What do I see? Why, this is old and costly Falernian! How could you pay
for it?"

"Pay for it?" repeated the old man. "With the purest gold in the world!
I told you that the Prefect had purposely let the King starve, in order
to undermine his health. For many days I have received no rations for
him. Against my conscience I have kept him alive by depriving the other
prisoners. This Rauthgundis would no longer suffer. She fell into deep
thought, and then asked me whether the rich Roman ladies still paid so
dearly for the yellow locks of the Gothic women. Suspecting nothing, I
said 'Yes.' She went away, and soon returned shorn of her beautiful
auburn hair, but with a handful of gold. With this the wine was
bought."

Wachis went into the next room, and kissing the hand of Rauthgundis,
exclaimed: "Good and faithful wife!"

"What art thou doing, Wachis? Rise, and tell me thy news."

"Yes, tell us," said Dromon, joining them. "What says my Paukis? What
advice does he give?"

"What matter