CHAPTER VII.
The Emperor ordered the Empress and Narses to follow him to his room.
When they reached it, he embraced his wife with great tenderness, unembarrassed by the presence of a witness.
"How your enthusiasm rejoices and exalts me!" he exclaimed. "I am proud of such a wife. How beautiful you were, O Theodora, in your noble indignation. How can I reward you! Choose any favour, any sign of my gratitude, my best and truest councillor and co-ruler?"
"If I, a weak woman, dare indeed believe that I may share your thoughts and plans in this war, then confide in me, and tell me how you intend to conduct it."
"I am resolved to send Belisarius again to Italy. But not alone. His trifling with a crown has made me wary."
"Then I beg the favour of being allowed to propose a second general.--Narses," she continued, before Justinian could speak, "will you be the other?"
She wished to make it impossible for him to go.
"No, I thank you," Narses answered bitterly. "You know that I am a stubborn and ill-tempered horse; I cannot endure to draw together with another. A marshal's staff and a wife, Justinian, should be kept on the same condition."
"How?"
"Alone, or not at all."
"Then you not at all," answered Justinian with vexation. "You must not imagine that you are indispensable, magister militum."
"No one on earth is so, Justinian. With all my heart! Send great Belisarius again! He may try his luck for the third time in that country, where laurels grow so thickly. My turn will come later. I am no doubt unnecessary here as a witness of your domestic felicity, and at home, opposite to my sickbed, stands a map of the Italian roads. Allow me to continue my study of it. It is more interesting than the map of our Persian frontier. One piece of advice. You will ultimately be obliged to send Narses to Italy. The sooner you send him the more you will spare yourself defeat, vexation, and money. And if gout or that wretched epilepsy should carry Narses off before King Totila lies upon his shield, who then will conquer Italy for you? You believe in prophecy. In Italy there runs a saying: 'T beats B, N beats T.'"
"Does that mean, perhaps, that Theodora beat Belisarius, and Narses beats Theodora?" asked the Empress mockingly.
"That is not my interpretation of the riddle; it is yours. But I accept it. Do you know which was the wisest of your many laws, O Justinian?"
"Well?"
"That which made death the punishment of all accusations against the Empress, for it was the only way in which you could keep her." And he left the room.
"The insolent fellow!" cried Theodora, sending a venomous look after him. "He dares to threaten! When Belisarius has once been rendered harmless, Narses must quickly follow."
"But meanwhile we need them both," said Justinian. "Do you really propose, as the second general to be sent to Italy, the man who persuaded us to reject the proposals of Cassiodorus?"
"The same."
"But my distrust of that ambitious man has since then become stronger."
"Have you then forgotten," retorted Theodora, "who revealed the intentions of Silverius? Who was the first to warn you of Belisarius's dangerous game?"
"But he now frequents the company of the men who are conspiring against me!"
"Yes; but, O Justinian, it is by my order, as their destroyer."
"Indeed! But if he is also deceiving you?"
"Will you believe him and me, and send him to Italy, if he brings the conspirators to your feet in chains to-morrow, and amongst them their unknown chief?"
"I already know who it is; it is Photius, the freedman of Belisarius."
"No, Justinian; it is he whom you would again send to Italy if I did not warn you: Belisarius himself!"
The Emperor grew pale, and grasped the arm of his chair. "Will you now believe in that wonderful Roman's devotion, and send him to Italy with your army, instead of Belisarius?"
"Everything, everything!" said Justinian. "Belisarius, then, is really a traitor! Then we must make haste! Let us act at once."
"I have already acted, Justinian. My net is cast, and no one can escape. Give me full power to draw it close."
The Emperor nodded acquiescence.
And passing through the curtains, Theodora said to the door-keeper:
"Fetch Cethegus, the Prefect of Rome, from his house, and take him to my room."