‘Do you wish to trifle with me, Afer?’ she said, in a dangerous tone.
‘I would rather brave Tiberius himself,’ he replied, with a bow, which was lower than humility itself; ‘far from trifling, I merely alluded to that which passes current in the island; but, if it be distasteful to you, I regret I was the unlucky means of making it known.’
‘My friends are always of my choosing; I ever abide by my choice and suffer no other interference. It is true I remember to have met the younger Martialis on chance occasions in the city. It is hardly possible that it should be otherwise, since the brother haunts me like a pestilent shadow. That should all the more predispose me to increase the intimacy with the name as little as possible. The tale of the elder brother’s folly has followed even here, Afer, and the good idle Capreans have saddled it on the wrong man—the mistake is obvious.’
‘That would have been the most probable explanation doubtless, if I were sure that the idle babbling had arisen amongst the islanders themselves.’
‘Psa!’ ejaculated she, sweeping round again, as if contemptuously dropping all further thought of the subject.
She walked on a few yards with the knight following. Then she turned sharply round on her heel and confronted him again. The movement was unexpected, and she caught a smile on his lip. She stamped her foot.
‘Tell me, what this is—what it all means! Quick, man!’
‘The thorn has stuck,’ he murmured imperceptibly, as he hesitated and looked down.
‘Speak!’ continued the angry imperious tones.
‘I knew she could not rest with that prickle rankling in her mind,’ he continued inwardly; ‘now her haughtiness shall dance to my piping and pay for her insolence.’