"'WITICHIS.'"
For one moment the Prefect was terribly alarmed. He cast a swift and searching look at Belisarius.
But a single glance sufficed to set him at ease.
"It is Belisarius," he said to himself, "but it is always dangerous to play with the devil. What A temptation!"
He returned the letter, and said with a smile: "What an idea! To what strange things can desperation lead!"
"The idea would not be bad," observed Procopius, "if----"
"If Belisarius were not Belisarius," said Cethegus, smiling.
"Spare your smiles," said Belisarius. "I admire the man, and I cannot take it amiss that he thinks I am capable of revolt. Have I not pretended to be so?" and he stamped his foot. "Now advise and help me! You have led me to this miserable alternative. I cannot say yes; and if I say no--I may look upon the Emperor's army as annihilated, and, into the bargain, must confess that I pretended to revolt!"
Cethegus reflected in silence, slowly stroking his chin with his left hand. Suddenly a thought seemed to flash across his mind. A ray of joy beautified his face.
"In this way I can ruin them both," he said to himself.