"I will go to Belisarius, but not with you," said Cethegus, and left the place.
As the others were leaving the Thermæ, the Pope said to Scævola:
"That will finish him! He has declared against the surrender before witnesses!"
"And he goes himself into the lion's den!"
"He shall not leave it again. You have drawn up the act of accusation?"
"Long ago. I feared that he would take the mastery of the city into his own hands, and now he goes himself to Belisarius! That proud man is lost."
"Amen," said Silverius. "And so may all fall who in their worldly endeavours oppose the holy Petrus.--The day after to-morrow, at the fourth hour, we will set forth."
But the Holy Father erred; the proud man was not yet to fall.
Cethegus had hastened immediately to his house, where his Gallic chariot awaited him.
"We start at once," he called to the slave who sat on the foremost horse; "I will only fetch my sword."