"I will give her weight in silver, nay, if needful, in gold--her full weight."
"Pshaw!" replied Ausonius, smiling, "that isn't saying much. The little one doesn't weigh heavily. Don't trouble yourself: I will not release her."
"Pardon me, Prefect," said Saturninus quietly, yet without averting his eyes an instant from Adalo, "I must again remind you that the Barbarian girl is not your slave, but mine."
"What? O ye gods!" cried Adalo, wild with grief and horror.
He hastily advanced two paces toward the Roman. "Is it possible? Is it true? Say no, Ausonius." The voice of the usually defiant youth now sounded almost pleading.
"Unfortunately it is true," replied the Prefect sullenly.
But Saturninus, who now knew what he wished to learn, answered calmly: "The captive is my property. And she cannot be bought with gold. But I will release her, if you--" he rose, approached Adalo and whispered into his ear.
The youth burst forth angrily: "The location of our fortification and the strength of our force? Come into the woods, Roman: you will learn there."
Saturninus stepped back coldly. "As you choose. Never will the red-haired maiden see her people."
"And consider, Barbarian," hissed Herculanus, "we need not use the rack to torture a maiden."