"But why do you not live in Rome?" "If you should see the splendid turnips I raise in my garden, you surely would not summon me to Rome. An old man like me interests himself only in his apricot slips." At this moment a messenger from the Capitol whispered to Pompeius: "Carinus has laid aside the purple in favor of his brother Numerian." Mesembrius sometimes heard so well that he caught the faintest murmur. "What did you say?" he eagerly exclaimed. "Carinus has abdicated, and Numerian will be Imperator? Huzza! Huzza!" "Do you know Numerian? What kind of a man is he?" asked the courtiers anxiously. "What kind of a man? He is a hero, a Roman, under whose rule Rome's golden age will begin again and the sun of fame will again shine upon us. The glorious battles which Rome fought against half the world Numerian will continue. We will all share them. A new and radiant epoch is dawning. I will swing myself upon my charger and be where every man of honour must appear. I am not yet too old to die in battle!" The old man, frantic with joy, was gesticulating enthusiastically, without thinking of his crutches, and recognised an acquaintance coming from the direction of the Capitol at a distance of a hundred paces. This was Quaterquartus, the augur. "You are from the Capitol, Quaterquartus? Well! Well! What is the news?" "What I predicted," replied the augur with dignity. "The Senate would not accept the abdication, and compelled the immortal Carinus to continue to wear the purple." Mesembrius was obliged to lean on his crutches again. "Oh, my poor feet! Oh, this terrible gout in my knees! Foolish old man that I am; what have I been saying? I swing myself on a horse? If I could at least sit comfortably in my wheel-chair! Such a foolish old fellow! How could I go to war when I see so badly that I cannot distinguish friend from foe? Laugh at me, my dear friends; laugh at such a silly old man. Oh, my feet----" And, groaning painfully, he dragged himself forward. Then Manlius met him. "Have you learned anything?" he asked. "To-morrow I will force myself into Carinus's presence. And you?" "I will seek Glyceria." "That you may kill her ere she can speak." "Have no anxiety. Even if she could use magic arts, she would die. We will meet in Carinus's atrium to-morrow. Be provided with a good sword." * * * * * Manlius went to the _Pons Sacer_. Before the statue of Triton sat the old woman who had given him the ring. When she saw Manlius she rose and went to meet him. "Have you the ring with you, my lord?" she asked. "Look at it." "Will you go with me?" "That is the purpose of my coming here." "I have waited for you four days. Why did you not appear sooner?"