"I know not."
"You know not?"
"Cæsar," said the old man, "be not hasty. Decide nothing to-night; wait for the day; the presages are doubtful...."
He did not finish his sentence, but took another victim, a gander, and then an eagle. Overhead the noise of the crowd at the gates swept like the roar of a torrent. Blows of a battering-ram shook the iron doors, but Julian heard nothing. He examined the bloody organs with eager curiosity.
The old sacrificial priest repeated:
"Decide nothing to-night; the gods are silent."
"But now is the moment!" cried Julian in vexation.
Nogodarès came in, and solemnly spoke:
"Julian, rejoice! to-night your destiny is decided ... but make haste! Afterwards it will be too late."
The soothsayer looked at the hierophant; the hierophant at the soothsayer.