I
must obtain the dispensation from the Emperor to permit me, a Senator,
to marry my freedwoman. That is now the thing nearest to my heart. And
please see that it is clear to her, perfectly clear, that she has
obtained no legal right whatever from my words spoken yesterday about
liberation. You remarked at the time, very justly, that my words did
not make her free: the form required by law was lacking. The words were
merely a promise. If I choose, she is still my slave, but no longer
yours, tell her that. In Burdigala, after she has tasted Roman life,
let her choose which she would prefer: to become the Consul's wife, or
be his slave and a she-bear's playmate. I cannot force her to wed me,
but tell her that I will never permit her to return to her Barbarian
land."

Saturninus would have tried to soothe the excited man, but a loud
signal from the tubas summoned both leaders to the wall.

The Roman trumpets were joyously greeting the galleys under the command
of Nannienus which, with all their canvas spread to catch the southeast
wind, came swiftly nearer and nearer. It was a proud and imposing
spectacle.

After the gallant Comes of Britannia, himself a Breton skilled in
sailing, had discovered the culpable neglect of the ships and the fraud
of the guilty magistrates in Arbor, he had toiled night and day,
ceaselessly and untiringly, that he might take to his friend and
comrade, Saturninus, the ships and reenforcements on which his whole
plan for the encircling and destruction or unconditional surrender of
the Alemanni was based. So, in the course of these few days and nights,
he had actually succeeded in putting the dilapidated ships into
seaworthy condition; and, besides old trading vessels and fisher boats
of the largest size, he had a number of new galleys built which, though
by no means to be compared with the proud fleet of the Venetian or
Brigantinian lake which, a century and a half before, had ruled these
shores and waters, could yet render sufficient service in seeking out
the hiding-places of the Barbarians along all three sides of the land,
and intercepting any flight they might attempt across the lake from the
Tribune.

Nannienus's twenty high-decked ships of war, when not lying at anchor
but fighting at full speed, would sink, by the mere weight of their
shock, when driven by oars and sails, whole swarms of the little
Barbarian boats, if they had the temerity to attack them. And to each
of these large s