He now tried to go through the Porta Carmentalis, and thus gain the back of the Capitol.
But he found the gate already occupied by numerous Goths. Amongst them was Wachis. He recognised the Prefect from a distance.
"Revenge for Rauthgundis!" he cried.
A heavy stone struck the Prefect's helmless head. He turned and fled.
He now remembered that there was a sinking of the wall not far from the gate. He determined to climb it at that place.
As he neared it, the flames from the Capitol again shot high into the air.
Three men sprang over the wall just in front of him. They were Isaurians. They recognised him.
"Fly, general! The Capitol is lost! Teja, the black Gothic devil!"
"Did he--did Teja kindle the fire?"
"No; we ourselves set a wooden bulwark, which the barbarians had taken, on fire. The Goths do all they can to extinguish the flames."