"But I have reason to believe," interposed Johannes, "that you very well know what has become of my brother; that his blood is on your hands." "And by the slumber of Justinian," cried Belisarius angrily, "you shall answer for it! You shall no longer tyrannise over the Emperor's army and the Emperor's generals. The hour of reckoning has come. The barbarians are almost defeated, and we shall see if, when _your_ head falls, the Capitol will still stand!" "Do matters stand thus?" thought Cethegus. "Then take care, Belisarius!" But he remained silent. "Speak!" cried Johannes; "where did you kill my brother?" But before Cethegus could reply, Artasines, one of Belisarius's body-guards, entered the room. "Sir," he said, "outside are six Gothic warriors. They have brought the corpse of Perseus the archon. King Witichis sends you word that Perseus fell last night without the walls, struck by Earl Teja's axe. He sends the body, that you may inter it with all honour." "Heaven itself," said Cethegus, as he left the room with haughty steps, "gives the lie to your malice!" But slowly and reflectively he passed the Quirinal and went across the Forum of Trajan to his dwelling. "You threaten, Belisarius? Thanks for the hint! Let us see if we cannot do without you!" Arrived at his house, he found Syphax, who had been waiting for him impatiently. Syphax quickly made his report, and concluded: "But first of all, sir, let the slaves who tie your sandals be whipped! You see how badly you are served when Syphax is absent. And be so kind as to give me your right shoe." "Properly I should refuse to do so, and let you remain in suspense, to punish you for your impudent lies," laughed the Prefect. "This piece of leather is worth your life, my panther! How will you ransom it?" "With important news. I now know all the particulars of the plan against the life of Belisarius; the place and time, and the names of the confederates. They are--Teja, Totila, and Hildebad." "Each one of whom is a match for the magister militum," remarked Cethegus, with evident pleasure. "I think, sir, that you have prepared another nice trap for the barbarians! According to your order, I have told them that Belisarius himself will sally out from the Tiburtinian Gate to-morrow, in order to forage for supplies." "Yes; he goes himself because the Huns, who have so often been beaten, will not again venture out alone. He will take only four hundred men." "And the three confederates will place an ambush of a thousand men in order to surprise Belisarius." "This news is really worth the shoe!" said Cethegus, and threw it to Syphax. "Meanwhile King Witichis will make a feigned assault upon the Gate of St. Paul, in order to divert attention from Belisarius. So I will now hasten to the latter, as you ordered, and tell him to take three thousand men with him, and destroy the confederates and their band."