with thee in converse on this topic, the state
has calls on me, which must be obeyed. Tell me, therefore, I pray you, as
shortly as may be, what is the matter you would have me know. Shortly, I
pray you, for my time is short, and my duties onerous and manifold."

Laying aside the roll, which he had still held open during that brief
conversation, and laying aside with it his enthusiastic and passionate
manner, the young man now stated, simply and briefly, the events of the
past night, the discovery of the murdered slave, and the accident by which
he had learned that he was the consul's property; and in conclusion, laid
the magnificently ornamented dagger which he had found, on the board
before Cicero; observing, that the weapon might give a clue to poor
Medon's death.

Cicero was moved deeply--moved, not simply, as Arvina fancied, by sorrow
for the dead, but by something approaching nearly to remorse. He started
up from the chair, which he had taken when the youth began his tale, and
clasping his hands together violently, strode rapidly to and fro the small
apartment.

"Alas, and wo is me, poor Medon! Faithful wert thou, and true, and very
pleasant to mine eyes! Alas! that thou art gone, and gone too so
wretchedly! And wo is me, that I listened not to my own apprehensions,
rather than to thy trusty boldness. Alas! that I suffered thee to go, for
they have murdered thee! ay, thine own zeal betrayed thee; but by the Gods
that govern in Olympus, they shall rue it!"

After this burst of passion he became more cool, and, resuming his seat,
asked Paullus a few shrewd and pertinent questions concerning the nature
of the ground whereon he had found the corpse, the traces left by the
mortal struggle, the hour at which the discovery was made, and many other
minute points of the same nature; the answers to which he noted carefully
on his waxed tablets. When he had made all the inquiries that occurred to
him, he read aloud the answers as he had set them down, and asked if he
would be willing at any moment to attest the truth of those things.

"At any moment, and most willingly, my consul," the youth replied. "I
would do much myself to find out the murderers and bring them to justice,
were it only for my poor freedman Thrasea's sake, who is his
cousin-german."

"Fear not, young man, they _shall_ be brought to justice," answered
Cicero. "In the meantime do thou keep silence, nor say one word touching
this to any one that lives.