"What?" she ejaculated, springing up to lay hand on his arm. "Thou!"
"Flaccus led Agrippa into a trap and stabbed him in the back," he went on, "and I struck the blow that laid Flaccus low. And Agrippa was taken aboard his ship that night, with a knife wound between his shoulders, wholly ignorant of the identity of his assailant—until I told him—three days out at sea!"
After a long silence, she said softly:
"And that was thine errand—for Flora!"
Without a tremor he inclined his head in assent.
"Nay, then," she began again, after another pause, "what more dost thou know? How much of this tale thou heardest so deceitfully is incorrect history?"
"Enough of Flaccus," he parried, smiling. "Tell me of—Classicus."
Junia leaned back in her chair and laughed a little at his evasion.
"Classicus? Classicus is a knave, one lacking invention, but not executive ability—wanting cunning, not courage. Now he leads us to believe that he examines a new religion—that same heresy for which he plunged thee into the Rhacotis peril. Some one put him up to it—mark me. Thus, he hopes to recant his fault against thee, for which the little Lysimachus was most unbending to him!"
"And Lydia?" he asked in a low tone.