Talbot Mundy

“ Is it only love whose ashes live no more?"
There were tears in Balbus' eyes. He had reached an almost maudlin stage of drunkenness. When Chloe's dance was done and the noisy guests pledged her in refilled goblets of Falernian, he leaned over toward Tros again and murmured:
"I will buy that girl, though she cost me a senator's ransom! That dog of an Egyptian sorcerer shall find himself surprized for once! He may be able to read the skies, but in Gades I am governor!" ”

“ Pkauchios signalled to Tros with a gesture like a dagger thrust, then threw up his right hand and shouted:
"Let the trumpets peal the verdict of the sky!"
Tros clutched his sword. He thought he heard the tramp of armed men, but it was drowned by a flourish of trumpets. There was a clang of shields on armor. He leaped to his feet as the door behind the curtain opened suddenly. A hand wrenched back the curtains of the dais and revealed Julius Cæsar with an armored Roman veteran on either side of him! ”

“ Laughter and conversation began again as a dozen girls writhed on to the stage to perform one of the dances that had made Gades infamous. Chloe ceased her sobbing. Balbus drank deep. Chloe begged leave from him to go and wash her face before she danced again. The slaves filled up the wine-cups and Balbus, refusing food, leaned over toward Tros, his drunken brain leaping from one passionate emotion to another.
"We were speaking of Cæsar. I must have no official knowledge. Do what you will suddenly, at the first chance that presents itself. ”

“ Tros gave a parchment to the secretary.
"Take it to him!"
The secretary, smiling with stored up malice, descended to the floor and gave Pkauchios one of Simon's six months' bills on the treasury. He appeared to believe that Balbus had contrived the entire highhanded business, so proceeded at once to lend a hand in it.
"Noble Balbus!" he cried from the end of the table where Pkauchios stood staring at the parchment. "This order is for two hundred and twenty thousand sesterces, whereas the price was but two hundred thousand. The tax has been included in the payment made to Pkauchios." ”

“ There were nine girls dancing bawdily to dreamy music in a greenish light amid incense smoke, and the guests were giving full attention to the stage.
"I understand you wish for influence in Rome," said Balbus. "Cæsar has denounced you as a pirate. There is a way open to you to become the friend of all Cæsar's enemies."
"Are you his enemy?" Tros asked, and Balbus pouted, frowning. ”

“ Pkauchios stood back against the wall, and Balbus in a rather tired voice broke the awkward silence:
"Welcome! Be whatever gods you worship kind to us all!"
HE PRESENTED Tros to all other guests, explaining nothing, merely saying he was Tros of Samothrace whose ship lay in the harbor. They asked Tros whether he had had a pleasant voyage, and one or two of them marvelled loudly at his good health.
"Most sailors come ashore so sick they can hardly walk," said a tribune, admiring Tros' bulk and stature. ”

“ Balbus began to try to comfort her, patting her between the shoulders, burying his own face in her hair, which gave her an opportunity to catch Tros' eye again. She made a grimace at him and jerked her head in the direction of the stage, then resumed her sobbing. Pkauchios strode solemnly toward the door. Balbus, distracted by Chloe's grief, took no notice of him.
"Music!" Tros suggested, nudging Balbus' elbow. "Who is in charge of the entertainers? It is music that—"
Balbus laid Chloe sobbing on the couch. ”

“ Chloe began whispering to him rapidly, but Pkauchios' face was like a wall against her words.
There began a noise of shouting in the court. The door behind Balbus swung open and a centurion entered breathless. Balbus jerked back the curtains.
"Well? What?" he demanded.
"Fire!" said the centurion. "A town is burning about twenty miles away. We think it is Porta Valleculæ. The tribune Publius Columella has marched all available men to extinguish the flames. He requests you to make arrangements in behalf of those whose homes are burned." ”

“ But she pleased by being at the mercy of the men who watched, not posing as a victim that had been debauched, which is a blown rose, but as a bud just opening, aware of life, outbreathing from herself the fragrance of its essence, yet not hoping to be spared the pain of being plucked and trampled underfoot. ”

“ But the great Pompeius is my patron. A man in my position falls between two stools if he tries to serve two masters. If Cæsar should trespass into Spain, which is Pompeius' and not Cæsar's province, he would do so at his own risk. My information is that he will be here within a few days."
Tros pretended to think awhile and to drink cup for cup with Balbus, but at the foot of his couch near the corner of the curtains there was a very large Greek vase containing flowers, into which it was not particularly difficult to empty a wine-goblet unobserved. ”

“ Are your Gades rioters ready?"
Pkauchios nodded.
"They gather. Balbus' guard has been well bribed and will not interfere when a crowd surrounds the wall. When your men lead, mine will follow. Near midnight a small town twenty miles away will be set on fire and the legionaries will be summoned to keep order and to help put out the flames."
"In what mood is Balbus?" Tros asked him. ”