This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
While, in the vast peristyle, many a cup was still being emptied, and thecarousers were growing merrier and noisier—while Cleopatra was abusingthe maids and ladies who were undressing her for their clumsiness andunreadiness, because every touch hurt her, and every pin taken out of herdress pricked her—the Roman and his friend Lysias walked up and down intheir tent in violent agitation.
"Speak lower," said the Greek, "for the very griffins woven into thetissue of these thin walls seem to me to be lying in wait, and listening.
"I certainly was not mistaken. When I came to fetch the gems I saw alight gleaming in the doorway as I approached it; but the intruder musthave been warned, for just as I got up to the lantern in front of theservants' tent, it disappeared, and the torch which usually burns outsideour tent had not been lighted at all; but a beam of light fell on theroad, and a man's figure slipped across in a black robe sprinkled withgold ornaments which I saw glitter as the pale light of the lantern fellupon them—just as a slimy, black newt glides through a pool. I havegood eyes as you know, and I will give one of them at this moment, if Iam mistaken, and if the cat that stole into our tent was not Eulaeus."
"And why did you not have him caught?" asked Publius, provoked.
"Because our tent was pitch-dark," replied Lysias, and that stout villainis as slippery as a badger with the dogs at his heels, Owls, bats andsuch vermin which seek their prey by night are all hideous to me, andthis Eulaeus, who grins like a hyaena when he laughs—"
"This Eulaeus," said Publius, interrupting his friend, "shall learn toknow me, and know too by experience that a man comes to no good, whopicks a quarrel with my father's son."
"But, in the first instance, you treated him with disdain anddiscourtesy," said Lysias, "and that was not wise."
"Wise, and wise, and wise!" the Roman broke out. "He is a scoundrel.It makes no difference to me so long as he keeps out of my way; but when,as has been the case for several days now, he constantly sticks close tome to spy upon me, and treats me as if he were my equal, I will show himthat he is mistaken. He has no reason to complain of my want offrankness; he knows my opinion of him, and that I am quite inclined togive him a thrashing. If I wanted to meet his cunning with cunning Ishould get the worst of it, for he is far superior to me in intrigue. Ishall fare better with him by my own unconcealed mode of fighting, whichis new to him and puzzles him; besides it is better suited to my ownnature, and more consonant to me than any other. He is not only sly, butis keen-witted, and he has at once connected the complaint which I havethreatened to bring against him with the manuscript which Serapion, therecluse, gave me in his presence. There it lies—only look.
"Now, being not merely crafty, but a daring rascal too—two qualitieswhich generally contradict each other, for no one who is really prudentlives in disobedience to the laws—he has secretly untied the stringswhich fastened it. But, you see, he had not time enough to tie the rollup again! He has read it all or in part, and I wish him joy of thepicture of himself he will have f