"Oh, relieve me from my helmet and mantle! they are so heavy," said Totila.
Julius took them from him and gave him his own mantle.
CHAPTER XIX.
All at once a thought flashed across the mind of the monk; had they not once before exchanged garments--the Dioscuri?
Had he not once before drawn the murderous steel directed at Totila's heart upon himself?
He thought they were followed. It seemed to him that he heard horses approaching, and Aligern--Adalgoth held the King's head upon his knees--had hastened to the edge of the wood to look.
"Yes, it is they," he cried as he returned; "Persian horsemen are riding up from both sides of the wood!"
"Then make haste, Julius," begged Totila; "save Valeria! Take her to Teja at the sarcophagus."
"I will make all speed, my friend! Farewell till we meet again!" And Julius once more pressed Totila's hand. Then he mounted Pluto--he chose the wounded horse, leaving his own, which was unhurt.
Unseen by Totila, he set the helmet with its silver swan upon his head, folded the white mantle around him, and galloped out of the wood towards the cloister hill.