"Yes, Cethegus," continued Theodora; "I would allow no other man even to think of this. But I will help you to obtain it. With you I will share the mastery of the world. Perhaps only because I remember many a foolish youthful dream. Do you still remember how, years ago, we shared two cushions in my little villa? We called them the Orient and the Occident. It was an omen. So will we now share the Orient and the Occident. Through my Justinian I will rule the Orient. Through my Cethegus I will rule the Occident!"
"Ambitious, insatiable woman!" thought Cethegus. "Oh that Mataswintha had not died! She at this court--and you would sink for ever!"
"But to gain this," said Theodora, "Belisarius must be got out of the way. Justinian had resolved to send him once more as your commander-in-chief to Italy."
Cethegus frowned.
"He trusts again and again to his dog-like fidelity. He must be thoroughly convinced of his falsity."
"That will be difficult to manage," said Cethegus. "Theodora will sooner learn to be faithful than Belisarius to be false."
A blow from Theodora's little hand was the punishment for this speech.
"To you, foolishly, I have been ever faithful--that is, in affection. Do you want Belisarius again in Italy?"
"On no account!"
"Then help me to ruin him, together with Anicius, the son of Boëthius."