Aber mit fester Hand ergriff Witichis ihren Arm. Silloin tuli huoneeseen Agave, kaunis, nuori tessalialaistytto, tuoden suuren ruusukimpun. Mutta silloin kajahti huvilan puolelta goottilaisen sotatorven aani. Tulisoihdut valkkyivat, ja kolmekymmenta goottia syoksyi solaan, Totila etunenassa. Han katsahti ensin Valeriusta. "Eijaa, Rautgundis, ankara rouva", sanoi Vakis paastaen toiset irti. "Ask no questions, do not delay," he commanded. "It must be done this day! Do you hear? This very day!" "Clearness of purpose," he answered, standing erect. "In every contract, the particular aim of each of the contracting parties must be plain. If not, they will continually hinder each other by mistrust. You have your aims, I have mine. Yours are evident--I have already told you what they are. You, Petros, wish that Emperor Justinian should rule in Italy in place of the Goths. You, Gothelindis and Theodahad, wish so also, on condition that you receive a rich recompense in revenge, gold, and honours. But I--I too, have my private aim. What is the use of denying it? My sly Petros, you would not long believe that I was only ambitious of serving as your tool, and of being a senator in Byzantium. I, too, have my aim, and all your threefold cunning would never be able to discover it, because it lies too close to your eyes. I must betray it to you myself. My petrified heart still cherishes one ideal: Italy! and I, like you, wish the Goths well out of this country. But I do not, like you, wish that the Emperor should step unconditionally into their shoes. I do not want the deluge instead of the shower. I, the inveterate Republican, would like best--you know, Petros, that we were both Republicans at eighteen years of age, and I have remained so; but you need not tell it to your master, the Emperor; I have told him myself long since--to cast out the barbarians, bag and baggage, but without letting you in. Unfortunately, that is not now possible; we cannot do without your help. But I will limit it to the unavoidable. No Byzantine army shall enter this country, except--at the last extremity--to receive it at the hands of the Italians. Italy must be more a gift from the Italians than a conquest of the Emperor. The blessing of generals and tax-gatherers, which Byzantium would bring upon the land, must be spared us; we want your protection, but not your tyranny." Han kaantyi ympari. � Temppelin varjosta tuli nopeasti esille mies. "'Mina tiedan. Korinttolainen Kallistratos ei tahdo suostua ehdotukseen, silla han toivoi seikkailua, mutta huomasikin, etta nyt on kysymys vain raha-asiasta.' Tuo jalo, ajatteli Camilla, han pyytaa anteeksi jaloimpia tekojaan. "En luota Bysanttiin. Keisari ei pida sanaansa." "Senvuoksi pidan huolta, etten saakaan sellaista." Konig Witichis selbst hatte diesmal die Konigin abgeholt [pg 211]mit dem ganzen Geleit seines Hofes. In seinem Zelte sollte der wichtigste Kriegsrat gehalten werden. Das Eintreffen der letzten Verstarkungen war auf heute angekundet: und auch Guntharis und Hildebad wurden zuruckerwartet mit der Antwort Belisars auf das Friedensanerbieten. Foremost came, two by two, six noble Roman maidens, covered with grey mourning veils, carrying reversed torches. Then followed a priest, before whom was borne the tall banner of the Cross, with long streamers. Next came a troop of the freedmen of the family of Boethius, led by Corbulo and the flute-players. Then followed, borne by four Roman girls, an open coffin, covered with flowers. Upon it lay, on a white linen cloth, the dead Camilla, in bridal ornaments, a wreath in her dark hair, an expression of smiling peace upon her slightly-opened lips. Athalaric came a step nearer.