Belisarius grew attentive.
Procopius, alarmed at the too bold sincerity of his friend, made a sign of warning.
Antonina's quick eye remarked it, and she started; the intelligence between the two men aroused her suspicion.
This did not escape Cethegus.
"No, Procopius," he said, to the astonishment of Belisarius; "our friends here will far too soon acknowledge that Cethegus is not a man whose ambition can be satisfied by a smile from Justinian. I have not saved Rome for the Emperor."
"For whom else!" asked Belisarius gravely.
"First for Rome herself. I am a Roman. I love my Eternal City. She shall not become the servant of the priests, but also not the slave of the Emperor. I am a republican," he said, tossing his head defiantly.
A smile passed across the countenance of Belisarius; the Prefect seemed to him of less importance than before.
Procopius, shrugging his shoulders, said:
"Incomprehensible!"