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Updated: June 24, 2025
"And thou hast brought me a message from him?" she asked, even as with this hope her heart began to beat violently in her breast. "Not from him, gracious lady," said Folces humbly, "for the praefect of Rome is dead." "Who told thee that he was dead?" she asked.
Therefore after a last, long, all-embracing look on the place which would for ever be as a sanctuary in her sight she went back to the studio at last, and herself going to the door she called Folces back to her. "The praefect of Rome, good Folces?" she asked as soon as the man had entered, "wilt see him again?"
"Taurus Antinor named Anglicanus," replied the man simply; "he sent me my freedom this night and a message to lay at the feet of Dea Flavia Augusta." "Give me the message," she said. Still on his knees, Folces fumbled in the folds of his mantle and from his breast he drew a roll of parchment which he offered to the Augusta.
Then, without waiting to hear protestations, or heeding the ironical laughter that came from the bewildered night-prowlers, he turned on his heels and resumed his interrupted walk along the slope of the hill. The footpath scarce more than a beaten track soon disappeared altogether. Presently Taurus Antinor paused and called to Folces to come up to him.
He walked in very humbly, with back bent nearly double, and when he was shown into the studio where the Augusta sat alone he fell on both knees before her. "Thy name is Folces, I am told," she began graciously, "and thou art of the household of the praefect of Rome?" "I attend upon his person, gracious lady," replied the man.
The consul-major had stated it positively to all those who asked the question of him, and he had it on the positive authority of Folces, the praefect's most trusted slave.
He took no interest in what went on around him; he cared nothing about the strangeness of the surroundings, his master was lord and praefect of Rome, and could visit those whom he list. But Folces, like a true watch-dog, remained on the alert, silent and ever suspicious, keeping an eye on his master, remaining obedient and silent until told to speak.
"No, Folces, I was dreaming as I walked. They came upon me unawares." "And my gracious lord allowed them to go. They were notorious miscreants." "They were the embodiment of a strange riddle, good Folces. They helped to puzzle me and Heaven knows that I was puzzled enough ere I saw those miserable wretches. Mayhap some day I'll understand the riddle which their abject persons did represent.
What is to become of his house in Rome, his villa at Ostia and his slaves?" "The praefect of Rome," said Folces, "made ere he died a testament wherein he did command the freedom of all his slaves, and ordered a certain sum of money to be set aside which will enable even the humblest amongst us all to live decently like freedmen.
"Rise, Folces, and go while I read," she said; "wait outside the door till I do summon thee." She waited until the man had closed the heavy door behind him: she wanted to be alone with these last words which he had penned for her. Now she untied the string that held the roll together, then she unfolded the parchment and read: "Idol of my soul, beloved of my heart.
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