“Nay, I am not so like to hear as thou art. Thy sister, Junia, is continually a guest in the house of Severus. He is a high and mighty man, forsooth; they call him second to the Governor. Methinks he has more power than the Governor: and I must not delay any longer, but seek both noble personages and find out their will, and I think I may claim a reward for the last day’s work. We tracked out the wretches cleverly enough, and came upon that band of thirty with a swoop. Catching the chief, Amphibalus, was somewhat a greater catch than if we had only surprised the others.”
“We were saved that trouble by the Welsh folk,” Claudius said. “A man came in this morning to say not one of the eight hundred is left.”
“Nay, but that is good hearing. I can now claim my reward with some assurance. Crushing out the whole swarm of Christians was more than was expected. I’ll put in your claim, young Claudius; which shall it be, a gold chain or a slave, eh!”
“I desire neither,” said Claudius, haughtily. “Methinks we Britons want no slaves, and as to gold collars, let my sister have the chain, if one be accorded. Commission for foreign service is the only reward I claim.”
“I’ll leave you to press the claim yourself,” Valens said, in an offended voice. Then in a loud stentorian tone he told off half-a-dozen of his men, and ordered them to remain under the authority of the young Claudius until he returned on the following day, and brought back orders as to the fate of the prisoners who were confined in the dungeon.
And then Valens, followed by his troop, rode off towards Verulam.
CHAPTER V.
CLAUDIUS FULFILS HIS VOW.
Claudius was no more inclined to the Christian faith than he had been when we last saw him in the room of Casca, the son of Severus. But he felt himself pledged to perform his vow, sworn by the gods, that if ever it were in his power he would save Ebba, the British slave, so well beloved by Hyacintha, the daughter of the noble Severus.