"Let me speak plainly; for that purpose am I come. Oh that I could call you back from the demoniac path, which will only lead you to destruction! You know that I ever loved and honoured you. But what I hear whispered of you by Greeks, Goths, and Romans, is not in tune with this reverence."
"What do they whisper?" asked Cethegus proudly.
"I do not like to think of it. But everything terrible that has happened lately--the death of Athalaric, Camilla, and Amalaswintha, the landing of the Byzantines--is named as the work of a demon, who is the author of all evil; and this demon--is you! Tell me, simply and truly, that you are free from this dark----"
"Boy," exclaimed Cethegus, "are you my confessor, and would call me to account? First learn to understand the aim before you blame the means. Do you think that history is built of roses and lilies? Who wills what is great must do great things, whether the small call it good or bad."
"No, no, I repeat. Cursed be the aim which only leads to crime! Here our paths divide."
"Julius, do not go. You despise what was never before offered to mortal man. Let me have a son, for whom I can strive, to whom I can bequeath the inheritance of my life."
"Curses and blood stick to it! And even if I could enter at once upon this inheritance, I should reject it. I will go, so that I may not see your image grow still darker. But I beg one thing: when the day comes--and it will come--when you are weary of all this bloodshed and crime, and of the aim itself which necessitated such deeds, then call me. I will come to you, wherever I may be, and I will wrest you from the demoniac power which enthralls you, were it at the price of my own life."
At first a smile of mockery passed across the Prefect's lips, but he thought, "He still loves me. 'Tis good; I will call him when the work is finished. Let us see if he can then resist--if he will refuse the Empire of the world."
"Well," he said aloud, "I will call you when I need you. Farewell."
And, with a cold gesture, he dismissed the youth, who was overcome with emotion.