Petros oli aaneti. "Asiaan!" keskeytti hanet nuori roomalainen, jolla oli lyhyt kiharainen, musta tukka ja saihkyvat, mustat silmat. Han heitti karsimattomana sotavaippansa vasemmalta oikean olan yli, jolloin lyhyt miekka tuli nakyviin. "Asiaan, pappi! Mita tanaan on tehtava?" "Therefore we fear," concluded Cassiodorus, "that, at the news of the vacancy of the throne, a movement may break out in Rome against the regency, be it for annexation to Byzantium, be it for the election of an Emperor of the Western Empire." With this he drew the cucullus (hood) of his mantle over his head and departed. "Sinua, yksin sinua, joka lahetit minut tanne Napoliin, missa loysin onneni. "I have a wish, my King." Meanwhile Cethegus had looked inquiringly at the Princess and the minister. Iva vareili prefektin kapeilla huulilla. "Minun luullakseni han osaa kaikkia kielia", arveli Marcus Licinius. [pg 219] Nuori kuningas seisoi muutamia silmanrapayksia pelastyksesta ja ihastuksesta sanattomana maahan vaipuneen hennon olennon vieressa. Hanen hehkuvat silmansa nauttivat taysin siemauksin noiden kauniiden kasvonpiirteiden ja kauniiden muotojen nakemisesta. Hehkuva puna syoksahti salaman tavoin hanen kalpeille kasvoilleen. "Imperator, ne patriisit, jotka kutsuit, odottavat puheille paasya." "Behold!" he said, on arriving at the temple, "behold, Goths and Romans! behold your Queen, my bride! The God of Death has united us. Is it not so, Camilla?" "'Secondly: King Theodahad will use all the means in his power to the end that the Gothic army shall be disarmed and led away, in small parties, over the Alps. The women and children will follow the army, or be taken as slaves to Byzantium, according to the decision of the imperial generals. The King will take care that any resistance on the part of the Goths shall be without result. Thirdly: in return, the Emperor Justinian leaves the titles and honours of royalty to King Theodahad and his spouse for their lifetime. And fourthly----'"