'"_I have joyfully done much evil in my life to those who have wished me evil, but if ever I did any evil to you two I repent, and I ask your forgiveness. The three mules which I strove to drive have torn me in pieces as your Father prophesied. The naked swords wait at the tent door to give me the death I gave to Gratian. Therefore I, your General and your emperor, send you free and honourable dismissal from my service, which you entered, not for money or office, but, as it makes me warm to believe, because you loved me!_" '"By the Light of the Sun," Amal broke in. "This was in some sort a Man! We may have been mistaken in his servants!" 'And Pertinax read on: "_You gave me the time for which I asked. If I have failed to use it, do not lament. We have gambled very splendidly against the Gods, but they hold weighted dice, and I must pay the forfeit. Remember, I have been; but Rome is; and Rome will be. Tell Pertinax his Mother is in safety at Nicaea, and her monies are in charge of the Prefect at Antipolis. Make my remembrances to your Father and to your Mother, whose friendship was great gain to me. Give also to my little Picts and to the Winged Hats such messages as their thick heads can understand. I would have sent you three Legions this very day if all had gone aright. Do not forget me. We have worked together. Farewell! Farewell! Farewell!_" 'Now, that was my Emperor's last letter.' (The children heard the parchment crackle as Parnesius returned it to its place.) '"I was mistaken," said Amal. "The servants of such a man will sell nothing except over the sword. I am glad of it." He held out his hand to me. '"But Maximus has given you your dismissal," said an elder. "You are certainly free to serve--or to rule--whom you please. Join--do not follow--join us!" '"We thank you," said Pertinax. "But Maximus tells us to give you such messages as--pardon me, but I use his words--your thick heads can understand." He pointed through the door to the foot of a catapult wound up. '"We understand," said an elder. "The Wall must be won at a price?" '"It grieves me," said Pertinax, laughing, "but so it must be won," and he gave them of our best Southern wine. 'They drank, and wiped their yellow beards in silence till they rose to go. 'Said Amal, stretching himself (for they were barbarians): "We be a goodly company; I wonder what the ravens and the dogfish will make of some of us before this snow melts." '"Think rather what Theodosius may send," I answered; and though they laughed, I saw that my chance shot troubled them. 'Only old Allo lingered behind a little. '"You see," he said, winking and blinking, "I am no more than their dog. When I have shown their men the secret short ways across our bogs, they will kick me like one." '"Then I should not be in haste to show them those ways," said Pertinax, "till I was sure that Rome could not save the Wall."