rmour that you and he used to wear."

"Why was this, sir?" cried Cracis sternly to his old servant. "Did I
not tell you that I had given up a warrior's life for ever?"

"Yes, master."

"Did I place any tie upon you? Did I not tell you that you were free to
remain in the legion?"

"Yes, master; but how was I to leave you? You know I could not."

"Well, sir, I gave you leave to stay here with me in my country house,
but I told you to leave all traces of my former life behind."

"You did, master."

"Is this the way that you obey a master who has always been true to you
in his dealings?"

"It's all bad, master," replied the man, "and I tried hard to do my
duty, and so I brought the old armour and our swords, and something
seemed to make me keep everything clean and bright, ready if it should
be wanted."

"It never could be wanted by one who was rejected, humbled and disgraced
as I was, man. You knew all that took place, and saw me cast down from
my position."

"Yes, master, and my heart bled for you. That's why I came."

"Yes," said Cracis, more gently, "and in my heart, Serge, I thank you
for your fidelity; but my orders were that all traces of our old
position in the Roman army should be destroyed."

"Yes, master," said the man, humbly, "but they wouldn't destroy. I only
kept them, and cleaned them up now and then when no one was looking; but
you know what young Marcus is: he found me out."

"Yes, father," cried Marcus, excitedly; "don't blame Serge. I made him
talk to me about the past, and he was obliged to tell me all about you
being such a great friend of Caesar, and how, at last, you went against
him and he--There, I won't say any more, father, because I can see from
your face how it hurts you; but I got to know everything, and, when you
were busy reading and writing of an evening, I used to come and sit by
the fire in the winter's nights and make him tell me about the wars and
what a great general you were; and so, from always loving to hear about
rights, I loved to hear of the wars and conquests more and more, and--"

"Go on, my son, and keep nothing. I must hear everything now."

"Yes, father; I want to be frank. It was all my doing, for I persuaded
and then I ordered Serge to get me sword and armour, and made the
armourer alter a man's breast-plate and helmet to fit me, and--and paid
for it all by degrees; and then I made Serge teach me how to wear the
armour and use the sword and spear