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There was a small green space by the wayside, covered with short mossy turf, and overshadowed by the spreading branches of a single chesnut, beneath which Paullus drew up the mules of Hortensia’s carriage, directing the old charioteer, who seemed hard set to manage his high-bred and fiery steeds, to wheel completely off the road, and hold them well in hand on the green behind him.
Still, the care which he bestowed on examining the fastenings of the doors, and such windows as looked into the streets, the earnestness with which he inculcated watchful heed to the armed slaves of the household, and the positive manner in which he insisted on leaving Thrasea and a dozen of his own trustiest men to assist Hortensia’s people, did more to obliterate the hopes his own words would otherwise have excited, than the words themselves to excite them.
She died; the censors heard the tale; and scoffed at the teller of it! and that Cornelius yet sits in the senate; those censors who approved his guilt yet live—I say live! Is not that cause enough why I should join the plotters?" "I cannot answer, No!" replied the other; "and you, Aulus, what is your reason?" "I would win me a noble paramour. Hortensia’s Julia is very soft and beautiful."
"Give it to Phædon," he said, tossing the note to Thrasea, "and say to him, ’if he make not the better haste, I shall be at Hortensia’s house before him.’ And then, hark ye, tell some of those knaves in the hall without, to make ready with all speed my light chariot, and yoke the two black horses Aufidus and Acheron. With all speed, mark ye!
"You love another," she interrupted him, very quickly, "You love Julia Serena, Hortensia’s lovely daughter; and she loves you, and you are to be wedded soon. You see," she added, with a faint painful smile, "that I know everything about you. I knew it long since; long, long before I gave myself to you; even before I loved you, Paul—for I have loved you, also, long!"
The years, however, which had gone before that restoration, the dreadful massacres and yet more dreadful proscriptions of Cinna and Marius, had left indelible and sanguinary traces on the ancestral tree of many a noble house; and on none deeper than on that of Hortensia’s family.
The ladies made no more delay, but took their places in the carriage, Paul occupying the front seat, and guiding the sober mules with far more ease, than Hortensia’s aged charioteer experienced in restraining the speed of Arvina’s fiery coursers, and keeping them in their place, behind the heavier carpentum.
And I—I—Oh, ye gods! ye gods! that beheld it!" and he smote his brow heavily with his hand, and bit his lip, till the blood almost sprang beneath the pressure of his teeth; but recovering himself in a moment, he turned to Thrasea—"Who brought this billet? doth he wait?" "Phædon, Hortensia’s Greek boy, brought it, noble Paullus. He waits for your answer in the atrium."
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