“Impossible!” said Stephanus with a gasp. “I hate him, he is my enemy, he must die.”
“Does that mean, that you have reason to fear him too if he lives?”
“Precisely,” said Stephanus, scowling.
“Do not be uneasy; a Christian forgives his enemies. Believe me, Cneius Afranius is a far more dangerous foe; and yet, I swear solemnly....”
“Folly!” interrupted the steward. “Even if I took your word for it, so far as you are concerned, who shall warrant me, that Cneius Afranius will listen to you?”
“My solemn oath. Afranius will do what I promise in his name, if I tell him that I pledged his word for the life of Quintus.”
“Stephanus! Stephanus!...” It was the girlish voice of the lad Antinous who, now that his master had given him his freedom, called him quite familiarly by his name.
The steward hastily sheathed and hid the dagger, and hurried out of the room. He locked the door carefully and went to meet the boy, who had come to announce the arrival of Lycoris and Leaina. They came in at the same moment; Leaina with formal politeness, Lycoris almost with vehemence.
“Where is he? where have you put him?” she asked. “I must speak to him, I must question him!”
“I do not understand,” said Stephanus evasively. “Explain yourself.”