‘Tell me not of money—who thinks of money!’ cried Masthlion. ‘All the gold in the proud city of Rome itself would never comfort me one jot for the taking away of the child. Why did you ever bring her to me, Cestus, and then I had been spared this?—but then, if you had not, I had missed the happiness of the child’s presence these fourteen years.’
‘Exactly,’ replied Cestus, seconding that with alacrity, ‘and then, kinsman, as we have already agreed that you must lose her whichever way it goes, it is, therefore, best to be rid of her on the best terms. Strike the balance and you have a great deal to thank me for. Cheer up, man; things are seldom so black as they are painted at first. You will not be left out altogether in the cold, maybe.’
‘The Centurion and she have already pressed me to follow them to Rome,’ said Masthlion dejectedly.
‘Good! it is the only place fit for a sensible man to dwell in. You may be as secret as you wish, or as public as you think proper to make yourself.’
‘I should be nearer to her of a truth,’ muttered the potter to himself, ‘and could get a glimpse of her from time to time.’
‘True again,’ cried Cestus, overhearing; ‘that is to be done quietly at any corner of a street; but it would be well to avoid possible disappointment and not build upon any nearer familiarity—knights and potters don’t match very well.’
‘I know it, Cestus, I know it! But yet it would be strange if she could forget,’ murmured Masthlion.
Cestus took another pull at his wine, and looking across at his companion’s troubled face, said briskly, ‘Come, Masthlion, this is only speculation; let us get to the facts! Have you anything belonging to the girl which might serve as a token of her early years?’
Masthlion rose up without a word and left the room.
‘That looks well,’ muttered Cestus to himself, and he was once more addressing his attentions to the wine jar when he stopped himself. ‘No! no! be careful, Cestus,’ he said; ‘you are only an invalid yet, and only need what will do you good. You must get strong again as fast as possible.’