“Be still, mad brain!” he exclaimed, striking his forehead with his fist. “I have been too easy; a prudent man should strike and hold; till now I only kept out of the way of the arrows of Afranius, now--let him see to it, that he hides himself from mine. Quintus and he! The same stroke may by good hap fall on both at once.” He paced his room uneasily; suddenly he stood still--before him stood a lad with soft and girlish features. “Antinous!” cried the freedman. “You glide about like a weasel.” “Forgive me, my lord, but I had asked three times to be admitted. I heard you speaking to yourself....” “You heard?” “Not a word, my lord. You muttered through your teeth--only disconnected words--I thought you were vexed and angry with the slaves....” “And you came to comfort me?” asked Stephanus smiling. “It is well that I have you; for the next few weeks you will have heavy work on hand. Shut the door and sit down on the couch there.” “Heavy work?” asked the boy disconsolately. “What, am I to carry water; or till the fields? Am I to be as miserable as the others are?” Stephanus laughed, and patted the lad’s beardless cheek. “Not yet, my boy. I have chosen you for something better than that. What I have for you to do is serious and very difficult, but amusing and interesting; and if you accomplish the task, you shall be--well, you shall be free. Do you hear, Antinous, free? And rich besides, for I will give you an estate....” “My lord, you know that my devotion is boundless. Only a few hours since I risked my life for two thousand miserable sesterces....” “Not too rashly, I imagine. You thought that discretion was the better part of valor!” “Pardon me, but you are mistaken. I rushed down upon him, when he was surrounded by his clients and slaves; and if I had not slipped away at the very instant....” The boy shuddered. “What is the matter?” asked Stephanus. “I do not know, but I shiver whenever I think of it. As I struck him, I met his eye--so cool and contemptuous.--If at that moment he had seized me, I should have been lost....” “You are childish, Antinous. I am afraid, that if you are so excitable you will not earn your freedom in a hurry.” “What, again must I...?” “No, his life is spared. You must do more than that.” “More?” said the lad in astonishment. “Aye, more, boy. Why any bandit from the Appian Way could stab him; what I want you to do requires not only zeal, skill and courage, but intelligence, readiness, and the craftiness of Ulysses[286]. Greek blood flows in your veins[287]--you are at once panther and fox. You shall hear the details in the course of the day; I shall expect you to dinner with me here in the study. Enough for the present. Now tell me where you have been so long? You had no sooner told me that your blow had missed, than, you rushed away again. I waited in vain ... you really abuse my kindness....”