It was near midnight, when Stephanus set out homewards. He could now hardly realize how he had so utterly lost heart at a single blow. Had he not sailed with triumphant success round many a rocky shore? Had he not ridden with safety through every storm? The storm that now roared round him was, to be sure, a hurricane. But Clodianus, that stalwart pilot, was standing at the helm.--In short--the much-dreaded Caesar was but a man like other men.--It was folly to run his head against the troubles of the future! “To-day is mine, and I will enjoy the present.” In his bedroom he found his favorite, Antinous. The slave flew to meet him with eager eyes, and as soon as the others had withdrawn, Stephanus sat down on his couch, and called the lad to him. “Well?” he said in a low voice. “The game is ours,” said the slave. “But it has cost much trouble and pains....” “Ours? Do not sell the lion’s skin, before he is in the net.” “But he is in the net. I have found out everything, and what I know, my lord, will be the death of him as surely....” “Do not go too fast; the Claudians are powerful. Nothing but the most terrific stroke will fell him.” “But hear me, and then judge. Quintus Claudius has joined the Nazarenes.” “Impossible! A millionaire has thrown in his lot with the beggars! It is a lie, boy.” Antinous laughed. “It sounds like a fable, does not it? But it is the truth all the same. I pledge my head on it: before the week is out Quintus Claudius is taken and sentenced.” “Boy, you are a jewel!” cried Stephanus beside himself. “If all this proves true, by the gods, I will have you set in gold.” “My plan is most simple. To-morrow morning early....” “That will do,” interrupted Stephanus, who was quite incapacitated by delight, from attending to details. “I trust it all to you, and give you full powers to do whatever you think necessary. As I live, that would be a victory--a triumph such as never was heard of! Come here, lad, that I may kiss you.” He hugged the boy as if he had lost his reason. “Now go, be off--I must rest.” “Sleep well!” said Antinous. “You may rest on laurels.” And he ran off. “Capital, glorious!” murmured his master. “Now--now, fair Domitia....” In the excitement of his feelings he hid his head in the pillows; a slight shudder shook his meagre frame. He clenched his fists, and closed his lips tightly.--Thus he fell asleep; and his deep and difficult breathing sounded loud in the still, dimly-lighted room. FOOTNOTES: [47] APODYTERIUM, (ἀποδυτήριον) the room where the clothing was removed at the baths. See Plin. _Ep._ V, 6, where a dressing-room at the bath of a villa is mentioned. [48] ELAOTHESIUM, (ἐλαιοθήσιον) the anointing-room, the oil-room. See _Vitr._ V. 11, 2. [49] GYMNASIUM, (γυμνάσιον from γυμνός, naked) the wrestling-room.