lus! That can only--"

"Certainly. But it doesn't prove that she loves him."

He opposed with angry obstinacy a conjecture which might forever
frustrate his wishes, and rejected the suggestion of his friend the
more vehemently, the more persistently this fear, though repressed,
constantly returned to his mind.

"By the way," he asked the Tribune, to change the conversation, "what
do you mean to do with the prisoners? Let them both escape?"

"Impossible! My duty--"

"But my nephew must not die."

"It would be the best thing that could happen," growled the Illyrian,
"for himself and his opposite men (for this selfish fellow has no
fellow mortals). But I feared that it would be the result of your
indulgence. Well, comfort yourself. As I promised life to the slave,
the mere tool, the Caesar can send the instigator to the mines too. But
you are paying no heed to my words. Where are your thoughts?"

Ausonius had suddenly stopped. Thrusting the staff he carried violently
into the earth he exclaimed: "Listen! Suppose I should go to her
now--at once? Explain everything, persuade her? Last evening, in her
excitement, she probably did not hear or understand. Just think of
it--Consul!"

But his companion smiled and drew his reluctant friend forward: "Let
her alone, Ausonius. You will only frighten her more. Perhaps a German
fisher-lad is dearer to her heart than a Roman Consul."

"Inconceivable!"

"Yes, yes! Very intelligible. I will confess to you that she vehemently
entreated me--"

"What, what!--when?"

"Just now, when I climbed down the wall to her and tried to speak for
you. She besought me to protect her--from your wooing."

"Ungrateful girl!" exclaimed Ausonius wrathfully. This appeal to the
Tribune against him wounded him most bitterly; he had the feeling:
Youth naturally combines against age.

"Beware," replied the Tribune earnestly, "lest you should yourself be
very ungrateful." But this did not suit the Roman's deeply offended
vanity.

"Since you have now suddenly become--what shall I call it?--her
guardian or defender against me--"

"I did not seek the position."

"Nor did you decline it. Then tell your ward my firm, resolute will:
She must go with me to-morrow in one of Nannienus's galleys to the
Emperor at Vindonissa, then to Burdigala. I will follow your advice: I
will not go into the forests with you; grief, anger, too much
excitement of many kinds, are making me ill--I feel it. First of all,