the fierce and never wholly-tamed beast was
reminded of his old enemies. With a terrible howl he crouched in
preparation for a deadly spring, whipping the floor with his long tail
and foaming at the mouth a sure sign of fury.

Antonina saw it with horror.

"Fly! fly, Cethegus!" she screamed.

Had he done so, had he but turned his back, he would have been lost;
the monster would at once have been upon his back with his teeth in his
neck. For no door closed the entrance, the only barrier was a curtain.

Cethegus promptly stepped forward, threw back his cowl, looked straight
into the leopard's eyes, raising his left hand with an action of
command, and threatening him with the dagger held in his right.

"Down! down! The irons are hot!" he cried in the Persian language, at
the same time moving a step in advance.

The leopard suddenly broke into a whining howl of fear; his muscles,
which had been contracted for the spring, relaxed; he crept whining,
with his belly on the ground, to the feet of Cethegus, and howling with
fear, licked the sandal of his left foot, while Cethegus set his right
foot firmly upon the animal's neck.

Antonina had sunk upon her couch in her fear; she now stared at the
terrible, but beautiful scene.

"That animal--the prostration!" she stammered. "Dareios always refused
to do it; he was furious when Belisarius insisted upon it. Where have
you learned this, Cethegus?"

"In Persia, of course," he answered.

And he kicked the thoroughly cowed animal between the ribs with such
violence, that with a howl it flew into the farthest comer of the room,
where it remained trembling and crouching, with its eyes fixed upon its
subduer.

"Belisarius only mastered the forts, but not the language of Persia,"
said Cethegus. "And these beasts do not understand Greek. You are
grimly guarded, Antonina, when Belisarius is absent," he added, as he
hid his dagger in the folds of his dress.

"What brings you to my house?" Antonina asked, still trembling.

"My often misdoubted friendship. I would save your husband, who has the
courage of a lion, but not the dexterity of a mouse! Procopius is
unfortunately absent, or I should have sent that better-trusted
adviser, I know that a heavy blow threatens Belisarius from the
Emperor. We must ward it off. The favour of the Emperor----"

"Is very fickle, I know. But the services of Belisarius----"

"Are his ruin. Justinian would not fear an insignificant man. But he
f