Hypatia or New Foes with an Old Face Part 40

'Like all sound doctrine-a savour of life or of death, according as it is received. I have not said it to the mult.i.tude, but to a discerning brother. And even politically speaking-let him commit himself, if he be really plotting rebellion, and then speak, and smite his Babel tower.'

'You think, then, that he does not know of Heraclian's defeat already?'

'If he does, he will keep it secret from the people; and our chances of turning them suddenly will be nearly the same.'

'Good. After all, the existence of the Catholic Church in Alexandria depends on this struggle, and it is well to be wary. Be it so. It is well for me that I have you for an adviser.'

And thus Cyril, usually the most impatient and intractable of plotters, gave in, as wise men should, to a wiser man than himself, and made up his mind to keep the secret, and to command the monk to keep it also.

Philammon, after a sleepless night, and a welcome visit to the public baths, which the Roman tyranny, wiser in its generation than modern liberty, provided so liberally for its victims, set forth to the Prefect's palace, and gave his message; but Orestes, who had been of late astonis.h.i.+ng the Alexandrian public by an unwonted display of alacrity, was already in the adjoining Basilica. Thither the youth was conducted by an apparitor, and led up the centre of the enormous hall, gorgeous with frescoes and coloured marbles, and surrounded by aisles and galleries, in which the inferior magistrates were hearing causes, and doing such justice as the complicated technicalities of Roman law chose to mete out. Through a crowd of anxious loungers the youth pa.s.sed to the apse of the upper end, in which the Prefect's throne stood empty, and then turned into aside chamber, where he found himself alone with the secretary, a portly Chaldee eunuch, with a sleek pale face, small pig's eyes, and an enormous turban. The man of pen and paper took the letter, opened it with solemn deliberation, and then, springing to his feet, darted out of the room in most undignified haste, leaving Philammon to wait and wonder. In half an hour he returned, his little eyes growing big with some great idea.

'Youth! your star is in the ascendant; you are the fortunate bearer of fortunate news! His Excellency himself commands your presence.' And the two went out.

In another chamber, the door of which was guarded by armed men, Orestes was walking up and down in high excitement, looking somewhat the worse for the events of the past night, and making occasional appeals to a gold goblet which stood on the table.

'Ha! No other than my preserver himself! Boy, I will make your fortune. Miriam says that you wish to enter my service.'

Philammon, not knowing what to say, thought the best answer would be to bow as low as he could.

'Ah, ha! Graceful, but not quite according to etiquette. You will soon teach him, eh, Secretary? Now to business. Hand me the notes to sign and seal. To the Prefect of the Stationaries-'

'Here, your Excellency.'

'To the Prefect of the Corn market-how many wheat-s.h.i.+ps have you ordered to be unladen?'

'Two, your Excellency.'

'Well, that will be largess enough for the time being. To the Defender of the Plebs-the devil break his neck!'

'He may be trusted, most n.o.ble; he is bitterly jealous of Cyril's influence. And moreover, he owes my insignificance much money.'

'Good! Now the notes to the Gaol-masters, about the gladiators.'

'Here, your Excellency.'

'To Hypatia. No. I will honour my bride elect with my own ill.u.s.trious presence. As I live, here is a morning's work for a man with a racking headache!'

'Your Excellency has the strength of seven. May you live for ever!'

And really, Orestes's power of getting through business, when he chose, was surprising enough. A cold head and a colder heart make many things easy.

But Philammon's whole soul was fixed on those words. 'His bride elect!'.... Was it that Miriam's hints of the day before had raised some selfish vision, or was it pity and horror at such a fate for her-for his idol?-But he pa.s.sed five minutes in a dream, from which he was awakened by the sound of another and still dearer name.

'And now, for Pelagia. We can but try.'

'Your Excellency might offend the Goth.'

'Curse the Goth! He shall have his choice of all the beauties in Alexandria, and be count of Pentapolis if he likes. But a spectacle I must have; and no one but Pelagia can dance Venus Anadyomene.'

Philammon's blood rushed to his heart, and then back again to his brow, as he reeled with horror and shame.

'The people will be mad with joy to see her on the stage once more. Little they thought, the brutes, how I was plotting for their amus.e.m.e.nt, even when as drunk as Silenus.'

'Your n.o.bility only lives for the good of your slaves.'

'Here, boy! So fair a lady requires a fair messenger. You shall enter on my service at once, and carry this letter to Pelagia. Why?-why do you not come and take it?'

'To Pelagia?' gasped the youth. 'In the theatre? Publicly? Venus Anadyomene?'

'Yes, fool! Were you, too, drunk last night after all?'

'She is my sister!'

'Well, and what of that? Not that I believe you, you villain! So!' said Orestes, who comprehended the matter in an instant. 'Apparitors!'

The door opened, and the guard appeared.

'Here is a good boy who is inclined to make a fool of himself. Keep him out of harm's way for a few days. But don't hurt him; for, after all, he saved my life yesterday, when you scoundrels ran away.'

And, without further ado, the hapless youth was collared, and led down a vaulted pa.s.sage into the guard-room, amid the jeers of the guard, who seemed only to owe him a grudge for his yesterday's prowess, and showed great alacrity in fitting him with a heavy set of irons; which done, he was thrust head foremost into a cell of the prison, locked in and left to his meditations.

CHAPTER XX: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

'But, fairest Hypatia, conceive yourself struck in the face by a great stone, several hundred howling wretches leaping up at you like wild beasts-two minutes more, and you are torn limb from limb. What would even you do in such a case?'

'Let them tear me limb from limb, and die as I have lived.'

'Ah, but-When it came to fact, and death was staring you in the face?'

'And why should man fear death?'

'Ahem! No, not death, of course; but the act of dying. That may be, surely, under such circ.u.mstances, to say the least, disagreeable. If our ideal, Julian the Great, found a little dissimulation necessary, and was even a better Christian than I have ever pretended to be, till he found himself able to throw off the mask, why should not I? Consider me as a lower being than yourself,-one of the herd, if you will; but a penitent member thereof, who comes to make the fullest possible reparation, by doing any desperate deed on which you may choose to put him, and prove myself as able and willing, if once I have the power, as Julian himself.'

Such was the conversation which pa.s.sed between Hypatia and Orestes half an hour after Philammon had taken possession of his new abode.

Hypatia looked at the Prefect with calm penetration, not unmixed with scorn and fear.

'And pray what has produced this sudden change in your Excellency's earnestness? For four months your promises have been lying fallow.' She did not confess how glad she would have been at heart to see them lying fallow still.

'Because-This morning I have news; which I tell to you the first as a compliment. We will take care that all Alexandria knows it before sundown. Heraclian has conquered.'

'Conquered?' cried Hypatia, springing from her seat.

'Conquered, and utterly destroyed the emperor's forces at Ostia. So says a messenger on whom I can depend. And even if the news should prove false, I can prevent the contrary report from spreading, or what is the use of being prefect? You demur? Do you not see that if we can keep the notion alive but a week our cause is won?'