"I already know who it is; it is Photius, the freedman of Belisarius."
"No, Justinian; it is he whom you would again send to Italy if I did not warn you: Belisarius himself!"
The Emperor grew pale, and grasped the arm of his chair. "Will you now believe in that wonderful Roman's devotion, and send him to Italy with your army, instead of Belisarius?"
"Everything, everything!" said Justinian. "Belisarius, then, is really a traitor! Then we must make haste! Let us act at once."
"I have already acted, Justinian. My net is cast, and no one can escape. Give me full power to draw it close."
The Emperor nodded acquiescence.
And passing through the curtains, Theodora said to the door-keeper:
"Fetch Cethegus, the Prefect of Rome, from his house, and take him to my room."
CHAPTER VIII.
Shortly after, Cethegus once more stood before the still seductive woman, whom he had known in youth. She was lying stretched upon her couch in the room in which we have before seen her.