When they had left the Thermæ of Titus behind them, and had reached the Via Sacra, near the Flavian Amphitheatre, they were obliged to stop on account of the crowd. A narrow triumphal arch had been erected here, which could only be passed at a slow pace. "Victory, to the Emperor Justinian and his general, Belisarius," was inscribed thereon. As Antonina was reading this inscription, she heard an old man, who appeared to be but scantily initiated into the course of events, questioning his son, one of the legionaries of Cethegus. "Then, my Gazus, the gloomy man with the angry-looking face, on the bay horse----" "Yes, that is Belisarius, as I told you." "Indeed? Well--then the stately hero on his left hand, with the triumphant look--he on the charger, must be his master, the Emperor Justinian." "Not at all, father. _He_ sits quietly in his golden palace at Byzantium and writes laws. No; that is Cethegus, _our_ Cethegus, _my_ Cethegus, the Prefect, who gave me my sword. Yes, that _is_ a man! Lucius, my tribune, said lately, 'If he did not allow it, Belisarius would never see a Roman Gate from the inside.'" Antonina gave her grey palfrey a smart stroke with her silver rod, and galloped quickly through the triumphal arch. Cethegus accompanied the commander-in-chief and his wife to the Pincian Palace, which had been sumptuously prepared for their reception. Then he took leave, in order to assist the Byzantine generals in quartering the troops, partly on the citizens; partly in the public buildings, and partly before the gates of the city in tents. "When you have recovered from the fatigues and honours of the day, Belisarius, I shall expect you and Antonina, with your staff, at a banquet in my house," he had said before leaving them. After some hours, Marcus Licinius, Piso, and Balbus appeared to fetch the invited guests. They accompanied the litters in which Antonina and Belisarius were carried. The generals went on foot. "Where does the Prefect live?" asked Belisarius, as he entered his litter. "As long as you are here, by day in the Mausoleum of Hadrian, by night in the Capitol." Belisarius started. The little procession approached the Capitol. The commander-in-chief saw with astonishment all the walls and works, which had lain in ruins for more than two centuries, restored to immense strength. When they had wound their way through the long, dark, and zigzag passage which led into the fortress, they arrived at a massive iron door, which was fast shut, as if in time of war. Marcus Licinius called to the sentinel. "Give the watch-word!" cried a voice from within. "Cæsar and Cethegus!" answered the war-tribune. Then the wings of the door sprang open; a long lane formed by Roman legionaries and Isaurian mercenaries became visible, the last clad in iron up to their very eyes, and armed with double-bladed battle-axes.