But the Goth let fall his axe, seized him in his right hand, and, like a stone from a sling, the Moor flew sideways through the door and rolled down the steps into the street.
"Where art thou, Cethegus?" again sounded the voice of Teja, coming nearer and nearer, from the vestibule and the atrium.
Some doors, which had been bolted by the secretary, Fidus, were forced one after the other by Teja's axe.
With difficulty Cethegus dragged himself to the middle of the Hall of Jupiter. He still hoped to be able to reach the study and take the writings and treasure out of the statue of Cæsar.
He heard the crash of another falling door, and the voice of Teja now sounded from the study.
He heard how the soldiers, who had pressed forward after Teja into the library, were demolishing the statues and busts of his ancestors.
"Where is thy master, old man?" asked Teja's voice.
The slave had taken refuge in the study.
"I know not, by my soul!"
"Not even here! Cethegus! coward! Where hidest thou?"