"Refuses to obey."

"Without reason? Impossible!"

"A ridiculous reason! Yesterday the term of my office expired."

"Well?"

"And Bessas declares that since midnight I am no longer his commander!"

"Shameful! But he is in the right."

"In the right! In a few days the Emperor's reply will arrive, according
to my wish. He will naturally, after the conquest of Ravenna, again
appoint me as commander-in-chief, until the war is ended. The news may
be here the day after to-morrow."

"Perhaps still sooner, Belisarius. At sunset the watchman on the
lighthouse of Classis announced the approach of a ship coming from
Ariminum. It appears to be an imperial trireme. It may run into harbour
at any hour. Then the knot will be loosened."

"I will cut it beforehand. My body-guard shall storm the trenches and
strike the head off the obstinate Bessas----"

He was interrupted by the entrance of Johannes.

"General," he cried, "the Emperor is here! The Emperor, Justinian
himself, has just anchored in the harbour of Classis."

Cethegus involuntarily started. Was such a thunderbolt from a clear
sky, such a whim of the incalculable despot, after such toil, to
overthrow the almost perfect structure of his plans?

But Belisarius, with sparkling eyes, asked:

"The Emperor? How do you know?"

"He comes himself to thank you for your victory--never was such
honour done to mortal man! The ship from Ariminum bears the imperial
flag--purple and silver. You know that that indicates the actual
presence of the Emperor."

"Or of a member of his family," interposed Cethegus thoughtfully, and
once more breathing freely.

"Let us hasten to the harbour, to receive our Imperial master," cried
Belisarius.

He was disappointed in his joy and pride when, on their way to Classis,
they were met by the first courtiers who had disembarked, and who
demanded quarters in the palace, not for the Emperor, but for his
nephew Germanus.

"At least he sends the next in rank," said Belisarius--consoling
himself--to Cethegus as they went on. "Germanus is the noblest man at
court. Just, incorruptible, and pure. They call him 'The Lily of the
Swamp.' But you do not listen to me!"

"Pardon! but I saw my young friend Lucius Licinius in the crowd of
people who are approaching us."

"Salve, Cethegus!" cried Lucius as he made his way to the Prefect.

"Welcome to free Italy! What news from the Empress?" asked Cethegus in
a whisper.

"Her parting word, '