‘Come more into the shade,’ she said hurriedly, laying her hand once more upon his arm; ‘some chance passer-by may see us here.’
He followed her a few paces into the shadow of the brushwood which lined the path, and, at the same time, carelessly threw his cloak from his right shoulder, so as to leave his right arm free and unhampered. It was a significant action to the initiated, and seemed to say, that his explanation of the probable cause of the slight noise in the bushes was not exactly in accordance with his inmost conviction.
The quick eye and wit of Plautia perceived it, and she said reproachfully, ‘Are you afraid, Centurion? You are armed!’
She had, in passing her hand over the folds of his cloak, felt the hilt of the sword which he held in his grasp underneath.
‘I have a weapon with me, truly,’ he answered; ‘but as to being afraid, I think I may say I am nothing more than [pg 211]cautious, as we soldiers are trained to be. You must surely admit, Plautia, that I am neither blamable nor foolish in preparing myself somewhat; for, when a man receives a request to meet an unknown person, in a mysterious manner, after dark, in an unfrequented spot, he is only acting prudently when he does as I have done. It might have been a throat-cutting assignation for all that I could tell. There are even some persons who would not, probably, have cared to attend at all.’
‘But you know now who has brought you—do you think that I would lead you premeditatedly into harm?’
‘No! I know of no earthly reason why you should do such a thing. I have certainly never done anything to merit your wrath or revenge, and such a thing could never enter your mind.’
‘There is not a soul here but you and I, and it was to be thus that I asked your presence. The toil—the danger is on my side, believe me, Centurion.’
Whether it was the shade in which they stood gave her increased confidence it would be hard to say, but her low rich tones grew steadier and more fervent, and both her white hands sought and clasped themselves upon his brown sinewy fingers.
‘Yes, Centurion, the toil and the danger,’ she repeated, speaking rapidly and fervently; ‘you saw me land last night, and in what company.’