With a scarcely visible quiver of mockery upon his fine lips, Cethegus bowed and began: "The accused refers to a document. I believe I could embarrass him greatly if I denied its existence, and demanded the immediate production of the original. However, I will not meet the man who calls himself the head of Christendom, with the wiles of a spiteful advocate. I admit that the document exists." Belisarius made a movement of helpless vexation. "Still more! I have saved the Holy Father the trouble of producing it, which would have been very difficult for him to do, and have brought the document itself with my own sacrilegious hands." He drew forth a yellow old parchment from his bosom, and looked smilingly now at the lines thereon, now at the Pope, and now at Belisarius, evidently enjoying their suspense. "Yes, still more! I have examined the document for many days with hostile eyes, and, with the help of still greater jurists than I can boast of being--such as my young friend, Salvius Julianus--have tried to invalidate every letter. In vain. Even the penetration of my learned and honourable friend, Scævola, could have found no flaw. All legal forms, all the clauses in the act of donation, are sharply defined with indisputable accuracy; and indeed I should like to have been acquainted with the protonotary of Emperor Constantinus, for he must have been a jurist of the first rank." He paused--his eyes rested sarcastically upon the countenance of Silverius, who wiped the sweat off his brow. "Therefore," asked Belisarius, in great excitement, "the document is formally quite correct, and can be proved?" "Yes, certainly," sighed Cethegus, "the act of donation is faultlessly drawn up. It is only a pity that----" "Well!" interrupted Belisarius. "It is only a pity that it is false." A general cry arose. Belisarius and Antonina sprang from their seats; all present pressed nearer to Cethegus. Silverius alone fell back a step. "False!" cried Belisarius in a tone that sounded like a shout of joy. "Prefect--friend--can you prove that?" "I should otherwise have taken care not to assert it. The parchment upon which the act of donation is written shows all the signs of great age: worm-eaten, cracked, spots of every kind--everything that one can expect from such an ancient document, so that, sometimes, it is difficult to decipher the letters. Notwithstanding, the document only _appears_ to be old; with as much art as many women employ to give themselves the appearance of youth does it ape the sanctity of great age. It is real parchment from the old and still existing parchment manufactory at Byzantium, founded by Constantinus." "Keep to the matter!" cried Belisarius.