"Why, the red-haired wood nymph."
"What of her?" asked the Illyrian eagerly, now keenly intent.
"My lord, I wish her well! As--as we all do."
"As we all do?"
"Yes, yes," replied the German, smiling, "even you. General; I've noticed it. Well, I report for punishment, and will tell the whole story because--because I'm afraid the little one's life is in danger."
"Tell your story," Saturninus commanded, evidently startled. "Who gave you the wine?"
"Davus, the Prefect's slave."
"Ah--and what happened then?"
"Then it happened that I drank too much, and when I mounted guard outside of the little one's tent, I soon fell asleep on the soft turf. A terrible growling roused me. The she-bear owned by a juggler, a Sarmatian, which I brought into camp yesterday and carried to the captive girl, acted exactly as though she were a human being, that is, a man; for she followed the red elf everywhere."
"Suspicious! Did Bissula know the animal? Did she call it by any name?"