“And thou didst await his return?”
“Ay, my master.”
“Thou art a good lad, Aldo. Thou hast truly earned thy freedom.”
“I do not seek to be free, my master. I wish to live always with thee.”
“But where is Macro’s reply?”
“He wrote nothing. He read thy letter carefully; then said, ‘Kalends—Tusculum—house of Junius—night.’”
“That is three days hence. Well do I know the honest Junius. Where didst thou stay while in Rome?”
“In thy new home, my master.”
“Nana is still well?”
“Ay, well, and anxious to see thee.”