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"Phorbas gives greeting to Opsitius, and informs him that after he had been sold by Olynthides to Nonius Libo, he survived the sinking of his owner's yacht and was sold by Libo's heir to Pomponius Falco, in whose retinue he now is. Farewell." I sent off, at least once a season, a letter like this to both Tanno and Vedia. No word from either ever reached me.
"Well," said Agathemer, "since remaining here means certain death and since there seems a chance of final salvation for you through the efforts of your friends and especially those of Opsitius and Vedia, since they will need plenty of time to save you, if you can be saved, from every point of view the right course of action is not merely inaction, not merely hiding, but an immediate and complete disappearance.
"Not any more of a bumpkin than I or any of the rest of us here. You are too high and mighty, Opsitius. It is true that in our countryside the only senators are Aemilius, Vedius and Satronius, and that in our immediate vicinity Hirnio and Hedulio are the only proprietors of equestrian rank but we commoners here are no bumpkins or clodhoppers." "I apologize," Tanno spoke conciliatingly.
Instead of asking how Martius came to marry Marcia, had you been acquainted with the recent past history of this neighborhood, Opsitius, you would have asked how most of the rest of us managed to escape marrying her." "A freedwoman!" cried Tanno. "A most unusual freedwoman," Hirnio asserted, "as she was almost a portent as a slave-girl. Haven't you ever heard of her, Opsitius?"
He would have been here to-night but for his recent marriage and approaching journey to Rome. I have always asked him to my dinners." "Then how, in the name of Ops Consiva," cried Tanno, "did he come to marry your uncle's freedwoman?" "This time I agree with you, Opsitius," said Naepor. "Your tone of scorn is wholly justified. Marrying freedwomen is getting far too common.
"Nothing," he yelled, "will induce me to traverse that road again. I told you so. You promised to take the other road. What do you mean?" "Don't worry, Opsitius," Hirnio reassured him. "We turned instinctively according to habit. You shall have your way. It is not much farther by the other road." "Anyhow," I added, "Martius is not in sight. He was to have been here before us.
But if you remain here inactive your death is certain, you will never see two sunrises. "But I agree with you that your friends will do what they can and I heartily believe that Opsitius and Vedia will move sky, earth and sea and Hades beneath all, as far as their powers go, to save you. If they have any chance of succeeding they will need more time than Perennis will give them.
"There is but one man in Italy," he replied, "who is likely to send you such a message, and his name is on the tip of your tongue." "And on the tip of yours, I'll wager," said I. "Both together now!" I raised my finger and counted. "One! Two! Three!" Both together we uttered: "Opsitius Tanno!" There was no variation in the Nubian's non-committal grin.
"That may all be true," Hirnio cut in, "but Opsitius, do let Agathemer say his say, whatever it may be." "You are right and I was wrong," Tanno admitted. "Proceed, Agathemer." "Let me describe her behavior fully, for the sake of others," Agathemer resumed. "When she sights a victim she flattens herself out on the ground and gives her long, quavering squall.
You need fresh air. I have considered what is best and what is possible. I have talked with your friend Opsitius. Through him I have arranged for you to have short outings in this manner. On fair days if you feel like going out you may call for your litter. In it you must keep the panels closed and the curtains drawn. Agathemer will give your bearers directions.
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