"All complete," answered Marcus.
"Good. Take this roll. Break the seal as soon as Silverius has left the city, and punctually execute every word therein. It concerns not only my life and yours--but Rome! The city of Cæsar will be witness of your actions. Go. Farewell till we meet again!"
And the fire in his eyes kindled an answering fire in the hearts of the young Romans.
"You shall be content!"
"You and Cæsar!" they said, and hurried away.
With a smile that seldom illumined his features with such radiance, Cethegus sprang into his carriage.
"Holy Father," he said to himself, "I am still in your debt for that last meeting in the Catacombs. I will repay it well!"
"Down the Via Latina!" he cried to the slaves; "and let the horses gallop as hard as they can!"
The Prefect had more than a day's start of the embassy. And he used his advantage well.
He had, with unchecked energy, thought of a plan by which he would remain master of Rome in spite of the landing of Belisarius. And he set about its execution with all his habitual caution.