"Let him alone! The possession of this country will not be decided by the schemes of the priesthood."
"Well," said Cethegus, taking the roll of papyrus, "I have here, accidentally, the names of his warmest friends; there are men of importance amongst them."
He would have pressed the list upon Witichis, hoping that then the Goths would take his most dangerous enemies away with them.
But Witichis refused the list.
"'Tis no matter! I shall take no hostages at all. Of what use is it to take off their heads? You, shall answer to me for Rome."
"What do you mean by that? I cannot keep Belisarius away."
"You shall not. Belisarius is sure to come, but, rely upon it, he will go away again. We Goths will overcome this enemy; perhaps only after a hard fight, but most certainly. And then there will be a second fight for Rome!"
"A second?" asked Cethegus quietly. "With whom?"
Witichis laid his hand upon the Prefect's shoulder, and looked into his face with eyes as clear as sunshine.
"With you, Prefect of Rome!"