Procopius nodded reflectively:
"Can't deny that I have great pleasure in these Goths. But they are too stupid."
"How? Why?"
"They are stupid because, instead of pressing upon us slowly, step by step, in union with their yellow-haired brethren (they would be irresistible!) they have planted themselves singly in the midst of Italy, without right or reason, like a piece of wood in the centre of a glimmering hearth. They will be ruined by this; they will be burnt, you will see!"
"I hope to see it. And what then?" asked Cethegus quietly.
"Yes," answered Procopius peevishly, "what then? That is the vexation. Then Belisarius will be Governor of Italy--for it will not last a year with the purple Prince--and he will wear away his fine strength here in idleness, when there is work enough to do in Persia. And then, as his court-historian, I shall only have to write down how many skins of wine we empty yearly."
"So you would like, when the Goths are done with, to have Belisarius out of Italy?"
"Certainly. In the Persian land bloom his and my laurels. I have thought already of many a plan to get him away from here."
Cethegus was silent. He was glad to have found such an important ally for his plans. At last he said:
"And so his 'reason' Procopius, rules the lion Belisarius?"