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"Has Master Drusus sent him to me?" she asked, very pale around the lips. "Master Drusus is at Corfinium. No one knows what will be the issue of the war, for Pompeius is making off. It is I who counselled my cousin to come to Baiæ." "Then what will you do with me? How may I dare to trust you? Deliver myself into the hands of pirates! Ah! Agias, I did not think that you would turn to such a trade!"
"What fool have we here? Do you know him, Agias?" "He is the freedman of Lucius Ahenobarbus. I can vouch for his character, after its way." "O-op!" thundered the chief, "drag him down to the boats! I'll speak with him later!" O-op avast there. And Agias carried his precious burden down to the landing-place, while the seamen followed with their captive.
There was Agias could hear a low moan; but at the same instant the fleeing pirate uttered a whistle so loud, so piercing, that the foremost pursuers came to a momentary stand, in half-defined fright, In an instant there came an answering whistle from the wharf just ahead.
"I will die for her!" cried Agias, his despair mingled with a ray of hope. "Where is your master?" "At the Forum, I think, soliciting votes," replied the boy. "Well then, follow me," said Drusus, "our road leads back to the Forum. We may meet him. If I can arrange with him, your executioners have nothing to fear from Valeria. Come along." Agias followed, with his head again in a whirl.
Right past the sword-wielding monster sprang the pirate, and Agias, all reckless, was at his heels. The twain were in the atrium of the house. A torch was spluttering and blazing on the pavement, shedding all around a bright, flickering, red glare. Young Vestals and maid-servants were cowering on their knees, or prone on cushions, writhing and screaming with fear unspeakable.
To-morrow evening a messenger from Præneste will come here, and if your guest is still safe in your custody, you shall have six more gold pieces. At that time, doubtless, you can let him go; but don't violate my orders, or " "Your excellency pays like a senator," said the landlord, bowing, as he fingered the gold. "Trust me that your wishes shall be obeyed." "They had better be," hinted Agias.
It was all like an Idyl of Theocritus; with the tenement of Pratinas for a shepherd's hut; and Sesostris for a black-backed sheep to whom the herdsmen and the nymph of his love could play on "oaten reed." At first, Agias had never dreamed of telling a word of his affection to Artemisia.
He has an idea to sell her to that rich Roman, Lucius Calatinus and then I don't dare hint what will be her fate." At this period the great slave emporium of the world. "Calatinus!" hissed Agias, concentrating volumes of scorn into a word. "You know him! You hate him!" cried Sesostris. "Then by Ammon-Ra, by Isis, by every god in whom you believe, save my darling from worse than death!
Come, tell me who you are, and whom you belong to?" Artemisia did not have the least idea what to say. Agias, partly through youthful love of adventure, partly because he felt that he was playing now for very high stakes and must risk a good deal, had thrown himself on the divan, and was holding Artemisia captive under his keen, genial eyes.
He wearied her with presents of jewellery and costly dresses, though, as he quietly remarked to Agias, the gifts meant no more of sacrifice to him than an obol to a rich spendthrift. He filled her ears with music all day long; he entertained her with inimitable narrations of his own adventurous voyages and battles.
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