rs with them, were placed in
separate confinement; the King imprisoned in the "prison of Theodoric,"
a strong and deep dungeon in the palace itself.

The procession from the Gate of Stilicho to the Forum of Honorius had
not been interrupted.

Arrived at the palace, Belisarius summoned the Senate and decurions of
the city, and took their oaths of allegiance for Emperor Justinian.

Procopius was sent to Byzantium with the golden keys of Neapolis, Rome,
and Ravenna. He was to give a full report to the Emperor, and to demand
for Belisarius the prolongation of his office until Italy had been
completely tranquillised, as could not fail to be the case presently,
and afterwards, as had been the case after the Vandal wars, to accord
him the honour of a triumph, with the exposure of the King of the
Goths, as prisoner of war, in the Hippodrome.

For Belisarius looked upon the war as ended.

Cethegus almost shared this belief. But still he feared the outbursts
of indignation amongst the Goths in the provinces. Therefore he took
care that, for the present, no report of the manner in which the city
had fallen should pass the gates; and he pondered upon some means of
making use of the imprisoned King himself, to palliate the possible
renewal of national feeling in the Goths.

He also persuaded Belisarius to send Acacius, with the Persian
horsemen, to follow Hildebad, who had escaped in the direction of
Tarvisium.

In vain he tried to speak to the Queen.

She had not yet fully recovered the effects of the night of the
earthquake, and admitted no one. She had even listened to the news of
the fall of the city with indifference. The Prefect gave her a guard of
honour, in order to make sure of her, for he had great plans in
connection with her. Then he sent her the sword of the King,
accompanying it with a note.

"I have kept my word. King Witichis is ruined, you are revenged and
free. Now it is your turn to fulfil my wish."

A few days later, Belisarius, deprived of his constant adviser
Procopius, called the Prefect to an interview in the right wing of the
palace, where he had taken up his quarters.

"Unheard-of mutiny!" he cried, as Cethegus entered.

"What has happened?"

"You know that I placed Bessas, with the Lazian mercenaries, in the
trenches of the Gate of Honorius, one of the most important points of
the city. Hearing that the temper of these troops was insubordinate I
recalled them--and Bessas----"

"Well?"