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"Excuse me, Scopus," Beric said quietly, "I am perfectly ready to fight with this braggadocio, and challenge him to a contest; a few hard knocks will do neither of us any harm, therefore let us go into the school and have it out. It is much better so than to have perpetual quarrelling."
"The emperor bids me say, Scopus, that when Beric is recovered from his wound he is to attend at the palace." "I thought the emperor meant well towards you," Scopus said. "You will in any case fight no more in the arena." "How is that?" Beric asked in surprise. "Did you not hear the shouts of the people the last time you entered, Beric?"
None of the others besides Boduoc were, Scopus thought, ever likely to be a credit to him in the more serious contests in the ring, but all showed an aptitude for wrestling and boxing, and the lanista was well content with this, as the games in the arena frequently commenced with these comparatively harmless sports, and in many of the provincial cities wrestlers and boxers were in great request.
There are upwards of a hundred schools in Rome. Some are larger than mine, and some smaller, but there is not one that stands higher. When one of my men enters the ring the audience know that they are going to see good sport." "Do we have to fight against each other, or against strangers?" "Against strangers," Scopus said.
He was insensible but breathed, being simply stunned by the weight of the blow. Scopus held up his own hand, and the unanimous upturning of the thumbs showed that the spectators were well satisfied with the skill and courage with which Lupus had fought. After the contest in which Lupus had been defeated there was a pause.
For the day draws near when the Roman Titus shall weep on Scopus over its fading splendors and then shall smite it to the dust. One purchase only does Quintus make. In a shop where Egyptian wares are sold he says to Aulus: "Look on this scarab, this sacred beetle, which has been shaped by some workman down in Thebae on the Nile.
"No, no," Scopus said, "I will give him to you, Beric, for the sake of our friendship, and for your consideration for me in not taking the rest with you. I have done well by you and him. Stay here and I will fetch him out to you; it may be that many will desert both from me and the other lanistae when they hear that you have taken to the mountains, but for that I cannot be blamed.
The latter at once joined him, and without asking any questions left the palace with him. "I would ask nothing until you were outside," Scopus said. "They were wondering there at the long audience you have had with Nero. Judging by the gravity of your face, things have not gone well with you."
"You advised me several times to go to the arena, Scopus, in order to learn something from the conflicts. I want to be present tomorrow. Porus and Lupus are both to fight." "I am going myself, Beric, and will take you with me. I shall start two hours before daybreak, so as to be there in good time. As their lanista I shall enter the arena with them.
"I care not for them," Beric said. "You must take them," Scopus said, "or you will undo the favourable impression you have made, which will be useful to you should you ever enter the arena again and be conquered. Go, go!" Beric again entered the arena, and the attendants led him up to the emperor, who presented him with a gold bracelet, saying: "I will speak to you again, Beric.
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