Admirably did Julian affect surprise, and, as if startled, lowered his eyes and turned aside his head with a deprecating gesture of his lifted palms, as putting away from him so criminal a gift. The shouts redoubled.
"What is this?" said Julian, feigning dismay. "You are ruining me and you are ruining yourselves. Do you think that I can betray my sovereign?"
"Yes! your brother's murderer!" shouted the men.
"Silence!" answered Julian, striding towards the crowd. "Do you not know that we are sworn...?"
Every movement was a hypocritical ruse. When the soldiers surged round him he drew his sword from its sheath and pointed it against his own breast as if to fall on it.
"Bravest of the brave! better die for Cæsar than betray him!"
But the men, seizing his hands, disarmed him, and many, falling at his feet, kissed them, weeping—
"Ah! we are willing to die for you!"
Others stretched out their hands, groaning—
"Have pity on us; be our Augustus!"