"Silence, O jarl," he had said in Greek to Ulric as he drew near him. "I shall go with thee speedily. I thank the gods that I now see thee again. I can do many good things for thee and thine. I pray thee bid them, also, to be as if we were strangers."
"They need no bidding," said Ulric. "Hael to thee."
No further word did either of them speak, but Lysias waited at the side of the chariot while Caius read the parchment epistle. It was but brief, and when it was ended the centurion said to Lysias:
"Go thou and come again. I will answer for thee to Pontius. Say that I bid him be with me within the hour lest evil come. Haste! On thy head! O charioteer, drive to my house! On, O jarl!"
"Behold," thought Lysias, "I am in a sore strait. Pontius will scourge me! But I will run."
A swift runner was he, even with the mail upon him, and at the gate of the procurator's palace he halted to draw breath.
"In! In!" exclaimed the officer of the portal. "I will announce thee. The procurator giveth a feast, but I may go to him. This must be some strange errand!"
"The gods be with thee!" said Lysias. "Tell him!"
It was but a few terrible moments, full of fear for the young Greek, and he stood in an anteroom before the stern Spearman.
"What did I bid thee?" he demanded.