A Struggle For Rome Volume I Part 37

But as she now gracefully moved towards the Emperor, delicately holding up the heavy folds of her dark-yellow silk robes with her left hand, her whole appearance produced a bewitching charm, similar to the sweet and soothing scent of Indian balsam which she shed around her.

"What pleases my imperial lord so much? May I share his delight?" she asked in a sweet and flattering voice.

Those present prostrated themselves before the Empress, scarcely less humbly than before the Emperor.

Justinian started upon seeing her, as if he had been caught in some culpable act, and tried to conceal the portrait in the folds of his chlamys. But it was too late. The Empress had already fixed her quick eyes upon it.

"We are admiring," said the Emperor, "the--the fine chasing of the gold frame."

And, blus.h.i.+ng, he gave her the portrait.

"Well," said Theodora, smiling, "there is not much to admire in the frame. But the picture is not bad. It is surely the Gothic Queen?"

The amba.s.sador bowed a.s.sent.

"Not bad, as I said before; but barbaric, severe, unwomanly. How old may she be, Alexandros?"

"About forty-five."

Justinian looked at the picture and then at the amba.s.sador.

"The picture was taken fifteen years ago," said Alexandros, as if in.

explanation.

"No," said the Emperor, "you mistake; here stands the date, according to the indiction[5] and the consul, and the date of her accession; it is of this year."

An awkward pause ensued.

"Well," stammered Alexandros, "then the artists flatter like----"

"Like courtiers," concluded the Emperor.

But Theodora came to the amba.s.sador's aid.

"Why do we chatter about portraits and the age of strange women, when we should think only of the empire? What news brings Alexandras? Are you decided, Justinia.n.u.s?"

"Almost. I only wished to hear your opinion, and, I know, you are in favour of war."

Na.r.s.es quietly interposed. "Wherefore, sire, did you not at once tell us that the Empress was in favour of war? We could have spared our words."

"What! would you insinuate that I am the slave of my wife?"

"Guard your tongue better," said Theodora angrily. "Many who seemed invulnerable, have been stung by their own sharp tongues."

"You are very imprudent, Na.r.s.es," said Justinian.

"Emperor," he answered, "I have long since ceased to be prudent. We live in a time, in a realm, and at a court, where, for any word that we speak or leave unspoken, we may fall into disgrace and be ruined. As any word of mine may cause my death, I will at least die for words that please me."

The Emperor smiled.

"You must confess, patrician, that I can bear a great deal of plain-speaking."

"You are by nature great, O Justinia.n.u.s, and a magnanimous ruler; else Na.r.s.es would not serve you. But Omphale rendered even Hercules small."

The eyes of the Empress shone with hatred.

Justinia.n.u.s became uneasy.

"Go," he said, "I will consult with the Empress alone. To-morrow you shall hear my decision."

CHAPTER XV.

No sooner were they gone, than Justinian went up to his wife, and pressed a kiss upon her white forehead.

"Forgive him," he said, "he means well."

"I know it," she answered, returning the kiss. "It is for this reason, and because he is indispensable as a foil to Belisarius, that he still lives."

"You are right, as always," cried Justinian, putting his arm round her, and thus walking with her up and down the room.

"What does he intend to do?" thought Theodora; "this tenderness indicates a bad conscience."

"You are right," he repeated, "G.o.d has denied me the spirit which decides the fate of battles, and, in compensation, has given me these two men of victory---_fortunately_ two of them. Their jealousy of each other secures my dominion better than their fidelity. Either of these generals alone would be a continual danger to the state, and on the day that they become friends, my throne will shake. You continue to excite their mutual dislike?"

"It is easy to excite. There is as natural an antipathy between them as between fire and water. And every spiteful remark of the eunuch I tell with indignation to my friend Antonina, the wife and mistress of the hero Belisarius."

"And I repeat every rudeness of this hero to the irritable cripple. But to our consultation. Since receiving the report of Alexandros, I am almost decided upon the expedition to Italy."

"Whom will you send?"

"Belisarius, of course. He promises to accomplish with thirty thousand, that which Na.r.s.es will scarcely undertake with eighty thousand."

"Do you think that so small a force will be sufficient?"

"No. But the honour of Belisarius is engaged. He will exert his utmost strength, and yet will not quite succeed."

"That will be wholesome for him. For, since the war with the Vandals, his pride has become insupportable."

"But," continued the Emperor, "he will accomplish three-fourths of the work. Then I will recall him, march myself with sixty thousand, taking Na.r.s.es with me, and easily finish the remaining fourth of the task.

Then I, too, shall be called a great general and a conqueror."

"Finely thought out!" cried Theodora, with sincere admiration of his subtlety: "your plan is ripe."

"However," said Justinian, sighing and stopping in his walk, "Na.r.s.es is right; I must confess it. It would be better for my empire if I defended it from the Persians, instead of attacking the Goths. It would be wiser and safer policy. For, at some time or other, destruction will come from the East."

"Let it come! It may not be for centuries, when the only thing remembered of Justinia.n.u.s will be the fame of having reconquered Italy as well as Africa. Is it your office to take thought for the future?