Cestus

“ A thousand fears and forebodings tore his mind, whilst nervous dread and hate shook him till his frame quivered like a leaf. With his faculties at their utmost stretch he watched and listened for what should follow.
After a close scrutiny, as if to assure himself, Afer entered the shop, and Cestus observed, with satisfaction, that the lynx-eyed Erotion remained in the roadway. The further the Greek was away the freer he breathed, for he knew his profound subtlety of old. ”

“ A similar sweetness, a similar pure symmetry and nobility, was recalled to his mind, and he admired, therefore, with a double pleasure.
‘Have no fear, your father will follow,’ said Cestus assuringly. ‘One need not be an augur to foretell that.’
‘Alas, I think it is only I myself that give him this trouble,’ replied Neæra, with a heavy sigh.
‘Not at all!’ responded Cestus, never telling a lie with more pleasure. ‘I don’t know what’s the matter, but it isn’t that. It will all come right—it isn’t sunshine every day. ”

“ You comprehend me perfectly. It is a positive pleasure to arrange details with an intelligent person like yourself, Cestus.’
‘You are flattering, patron. Who is this individual who is so unfortunate as to stand in your displeasure?’
‘I repeat it is a pleasure to do business with you, Cestus,’ resumed Afer calmly. ‘Previous to the actual execution of your task, I shall require you to act a little part. I shall [pg 67] require you, in fact, to clean and adorn yourself in order to make a visit.’
‘Oh, oh!’ murmured Cestus doubtfully. ”

“ To be free with one’s treasure is an excellent way of becoming popular and powerful—none better—in Rome at least.’
‘Enough, I have said! If you are wise you will leave your insolence behind you, among your pot companions, when you seek to come before me.’
‘Surely, patron, when you consider the matter calmly, you can hardly refuse me a small present,’ said Cestus, assuming instantly a mock respect, which was only too palpably impudent.
The knight bit his lip, and the heaving of his breast stirred the folds of his toga with rapid pulsations. ”

“ Why, what is the matter with him?’
‘That I am asking you—not as regards his bodily health; that is sound enough, as you say, thank the gods. But there is some trouble—something preying on his mind: have you not noticed it?’
‘I am sorry to hear you say it,’ replied Cestus, slowly shaking his head; ‘but I am not so well acquainted with his ways and humours as you are.’
‘He has no ways and humours,’ she retorted swiftly, with a slight but significant rearing of her form—‘at least no strange ways or humours. He is ever open, cheerful, and light-hearted, without a shadow of ill-humour. ”

“ Have you told your wife and the girl what you mean to do?’
‘No; but it means only the telling,’ replied Masthlion, with the faintest hesitation.
‘I am not so sure of that; and besides it is your duty not to run any risk on their account.’
‘Nothing venture nothing win. As I have told you, you have got silly fancies into your head. The risk I run does not trouble my conscience on the score of those I leave behind me; so have done, Cestus, and trouble me no more.’
Cestus approached him, and taking his arm with one hand he pointed to the door with the other. ”

“ More than once, despair urged him to force his way into the presence of the tyrant himself and demand his freedom, or to boldly pass the outer gate and gain the fishermen’s boats. But the madness of such an act was evident even to his own wild thoughts. At every outlet a guard was lolling lazily on his spear, his gilded panoply shining in the sun. One shadowy hope there was, that Cestus might have persuaded Neæra to proceed to Rome. But that was hoping against hope: the unhappy potter knew in his heart she would never consent. ”

“ What say you to this, Suburan?’
‘Why, it is easy enough for him to say that in this place,’ replied Cestus, with a laugh; ‘but in the city he would not dare. He is but plunging himself deeper into the mud when he denies me. It is not a simple thing to throw off altogether a friendship of eighteen years!’
‘Friendship!—execrable villain,’ hissed the knight.
‘As you please, patron; you were always fertile in pretty names,’ retorted the other, shrugging his shoulders.
[pg 419] ‘It must be just as easy for you to prove the existence of eighteen years’ connection,’ said Tiberius. ”

“ New-born qualities of heroism transfigured her, and clothed her with a new beauty. The routine of her humble life had never lighted her fair face with such an unexpected spirit of dauntlessness. That brief glance filled his heart with pride and rapture such as he never felt before, and nerved him with the strength of a Titan. Her unruffled mien flooded his mind with the parting words of Cestus, and he thrilled with joy. Surely, none but noble blood could so nobly withstand such a terrible test. ”

“ Previous to this Afer had quietly sent off a message to Cestus by the Greek Erotion. That astute youth threaded the inmost haunts and foul intricacies of the Subura with sure confidence, and succeeded in discovering the object of his search, deluged with wine, and revelling in the heat of a brutal orgy, amid ruffians and women of the lowest type. Assailed by the obscene chorus of this satanic crew, the Greek, with the readiness and aptness of his race, exchanged witticisms with a fluency and smartness which equalled, if not exceeded, their own. ”

“ When he had heard everything that Masthlion could tell him he ejaculated ‘Ha!’ and relapsed into deep thought as he gazed into the fire.
‘Well! what is your opinion?’ inquired Masthlion.
‘Opinion!’ echoed Cestus, ‘my opinion is that they have already settled the matter beyond your interference, or mine. If they have taken such a strong fancy for each other that is enough for sensible people.’
‘But the youth—the Pretorian—do you approve of him?’ said Masthlion impatiently. ”

“ The functions of body and brain seemed withdrawn into an impenetrable inner casket, leaving all else relaxed, lifeless, and torpid. It is the supreme effort to resist exquisite torture, this power of self-paralysation, this contraction of all sense into the numbness of oblivion; whilst to the beholder the spectacle of mute suffering is the most heartrending of all.
Cestus, without further delay, began the same narrative he had already related to Masthlion. Tibia sat like a carven image, with her hands clenched in her lap and her head half bowed. ”

“ But, until the time is ripe to act, potter, you must keep all this secret. Not a word to the child, or to your wife, until fit time.’
‘I will not,’ answered Masthlion.
‘Swear it, kinsman, for we may have to wait long yet.’
‘I never broke my word,’ said Masthlion proudly.
‘Enough; then I will trust to you,’ said Cestus. ‘Roll up those traps and keep them safe; and, on your life, breathe not a word to a living soul. Good-night!’
Cestus departed to his pallet bed upstairs, but Masthlion remained sitting before the fire for a long time in deep reflection. ”

“ Seek him, and bring him hither back with thee, that I may tell him what I did, for my mind torments me more than my crushed body. He had a granddaughter, a little child—a little goddess; I can tell him of that child—bid him come with haste! Fourteen years ago I stole her from his door and sold her. She yet lives—a slave!”’
In spite of himself; in spite of the numberless plausible tales and previous disappointments, Fabricius felt his heart beat violently, and a tremor seize his limbs. Cestus’s small keen eyes noted the change of colour on his cheek. ”

“ Of course it means death in some shape or other.’ The face of Cestus grew dark and sullen as a thundercloud, and he folded his arms across his chest without a word.
‘What is to be done?’ said Fabricius, the extremity of distress breaking down the repugnance and indignation with which he regarded his companion.
‘The luck seems against us,’ answered the Suburan bitterly; ‘he must have played the rash fool. At any rate, your letter shows that I am to be believed when I make you a statement. All we can do is to get there as fast as we can and make the best of a bad job. ”

“ I am going to open a weighty subject with him, so I am taking time to consider.’
‘And what may that be?’ asked Neæra, seating herself on a stool beside him and looking into his face.
Cestus kept his glance on the fire as he replied:
‘It is not indeed so grave a matter after all, but he is sure to make it so. I want him to cut loose from this tomb of a town and take up his abode in Rome. It is the only place for a man of skill. ”

“ I am in rare spirits at finding everybody well and happy,’ replied Cestus gaily. ‘Bring out the drink, kinsman, and shut the door; what better could one wish when we are alone together?’
Masthlion quickly made the required dispositions and sat opposite his brother-in-law before the bright fire alluded to. He stretched his arm out at length upon the table, with his fingers nervously moving and tapping thereon, whilst he watched the Suburan pour out some wine into two cups. ”

“ That young slip, as I sit here before you, Masthlion, is the girl who calls you father.’
The potter sat still. His gaze was concentrated with painful intensity on the speaker. His fingers clenched the table like a vice, and his breast heaved and fell in a tumult of emotion.
‘You can easily supply the rest,’ continued Cestus.
Masthlion nodded without speaking, and his head fell on his breast. His heart swelled to bursting. He dare not trust himself to open his mouth to utter a sound. ”

“ Fortune favoured him as they passed the temple of the famous conqueror. The moon glanced out with her silver-bright disc from behind the sharp edge of a black cloud, and bathed the columns of the temple, as well as every object around, in a flood of splendour. The obnoxious lanterns, with their smoky, yellow glare, were useless, and a contrast to the pure brightness around. The moment was opportune. Pannicus the slave, walking on the left of Cestus, carried his lantern hanging down at the full length of his right arm. ”

“ As soon as I return from Capreae we will go, and, at least, make a trial of a new home—though it is a hard task to transplant old trees.’
‘As soon as you return from Capreae!’ echoed Cestus, his incipient satisfaction giving way in a breath to disgust. ‘You will still persist in that madness. It must never be! You have no need of Caesar—what benefit to you is a man who lives like a hermit on a rock? The rich nobles in Rome will be a thousand times the service to you—you shall not go!’
‘I will!’ cried Masthlion, stung into anger and despair by the fierce tone of his kinsman ”

“ Presenting himself suddenly before his host, he was gratified to learn that the change was so great as to mystify that worthy man for a moment.
This excursion proved to Cestus how very far his limbs were from their pristine state of sturdiness. His next expedition, with his embrowned face, was a ramble into the Subura. He took the most unfrequented streets, and, when he arrived at his destination, he avoided all chance of contact with acquaintances. Sending for the individual whom he had constituted his banker, he remained closeted with that worthy in a retreat secure from intrusion. ”

“ Masthlion dropped back into his seat with a suppressed groan. ‘Then if this be true I have indeed lost her!’ he said, and he buried his face in his hands.
‘’Tis nought to grieve over,’ remarked Cestus, shrugging his shoulders in contempt at his companion’s want of shrewdness; ‘on the contrary, you should be in a dancing mood with joy. You have reared up the youngster to as fine a filly as one could wish to see, and you may well expect to have your strong chest well lined—better than ever it was before.’
‘Tell me not of money—who thinks of money!’ cried Masthlion. ”

“ I have already told Masthlion this, with all the common sense one can be capable of, and shown him how it is the best place for employment in all his work.’
‘I have already agreed; if Tibia is willing we will go to the great city,’ said Masthlion.
‘Ay—but not now—not at once!’ replied Cestus sharply. ‘Only, as you say, when you come back from Capreae. That is another thing altogether. It is a promise on condition with a vengeance, when there is every chance you will not be alive to perform it. ”

“ If Caesar were as good as his word, he would be breathing the pure air of heaven in a few hours. The thought filled him with the glowing warmth and comfort of wine. On Cestus everything depended. Had he left for Rome? Should he meet him at the house of Fabricius? Had he the proofs, as he asserted, and would they be conclusive and satisfactory to the old man? Was she really anything but the simple girl he had always known her? The potter’s wife said she never had a child of her own. Her beauty seemed never to spring from such lowly parents. ”

“ Cestus held up his hands in affected admiration.
[pg 69] ‘You are inspired, patron! But hold; how if the old man will not come forth with me? What then comes of all this fine scheme?’
‘Nothing,’ replied Afer calmly. ‘We shall have to wait and devise again.’
‘I care not for this complicated notion. I prefer to have not so many cooks to the broth. There is nothing so sure, and so easy, as a little dust of a certain kind in his wine or meat.’
The knight shook his head.
‘It is too effective, my Cestus, and too common. It would not fail to be talked about. No ”

“ Nevertheless I can wish you happiness; fortune, without doubt, you already possess, so there is no need to wish you that.’
‘I thank you!’ said Martialis coldly.
‘And you! I remember you being stouter in body and whiter in face. Whence have you come?’ inquired Masthlion.
‘It is a long story, kinsman, and I will tell you at leisure,’ replied Cestus; ‘enough for the present to tell you I have been at death’s door, and have come to gain back my strength in the pure air of Surrentum. ”