bolished. I owe him my life and my sound limbs, and I would
gladly risk my neck for him. And, if it cannot be otherwise, I will
leave this city with you. But we must not delay long, for the Prefect
has no need of my pincers and screws if he once takes it into his head
to torture a man's marrow out of his bones. I fear him as I fear the
devil!"

"And I hate him as I hate a lie!" cried Rauthgundis sternly.

"So we must be quick," Dromon went on, "before he can carry out his
cruel intentions; for he is certainly planning something terrible
against the King. I don't know what he can want of the poor prisoner.
Now listen, and mark my words. The third night from now, when Paulus
keeps the watch, and I take the King his evening drink, I will unlock
his chains, throw my mantle over him, and lead him out of the prison
and the passage into the court. Thence he will be able to go unnoticed
to the gate of the palace, where the sentinel will demand the
watch-word. This I shall acquaint him with. When he is once in the
street, he must go direct to the Tower of AEtius, where Paulus will let
him pass the breach. Outside, in the pine-grove of Diana, at a short
distance from the gate, Wachis will wait for him with Wallada. But no
one must accompany him; not even you, Rauthgundis. He will escape more
surely alone."

"Of what consequence am I? He shall be free; not even bound to me! Thou
must not even name my name. I have brought him misfortune enough, I
will only look at him once again from the window as he goes away!"

The Prefect now sunned himself in the feeling of supremacy. He was
Governor of Italy. By his order the fortifications were repaired and
strengthened, the citizens practised in the use of arms all over the
country. The representatives of Byzantium could no longer
counterbalance him. Their captains had no luck; the siege of Tarvisium,
as well as of Verona and Ticinum, made no progress. And Cethegus heard
with pleasure that Hildebad, whose troops had been augmented by
deserters to the number of about six hundred, had badly beaten Acacius,
who had overtaken and attacked him with a thousand Persian horsemen.
But Hildebad's road was still blocked by a strong battalion of
Byzantines, who marched against him from Mantua--he had intended to
join Totila at Tarvisium--and he was obliged to throw himself into the
Castle of Castra Nova, which was still occupied by the Goths under
Thorismuth.

Here the Byzantines kept him shut u