No captive chained to the chariot of the greatest Caesar that ever lived had faced a more hopeless situation than he. What though he knew that a regiment of marines or a squadron of Uhlans might have reduced this entire empire to vassalage? What though he knew that the mayor of many a modern city could have commanded a fighting force far greater and much more effective than this little Caesar? The knowledge was only tantalizing, for the fact remained that Validus Augustus was supreme here and there was neither regiment of marines nor squadron of Uhlans to question his behavior toward the subject of a great republic that could have swallowed his entire empire without being conscious of any discomfort. The triumph was over. Von Harben had been returned to the cell that he occupied with Mallius Lepus. "You are back early," said Lepus. "How did the triumph of Validus impress you?" "It was not much of a show, if I may judge by the amount of enthusiasm displayed by the people." "The triumphs of Validus are always poor things," said Lepus. "He would rather put ten talents in his belly or on his back than spend one denarius to amuse the people." "And the games," asked von Harben, "will they be as poor?" "They do not amount to much," said Lepus, "We have few criminals here and as we have to purchase all our slaves, they are too valuable to waste in this way. Many of the contests are between wild beasts, an occasional thief or murderer may be pitted against a gladiator, but for the most part Validus depends upon professional gladiators and political prisoners--enemies or supposed enemies of Caesar. More often they are like you and I--victims of the lying and jealous intrigues of favorites. There are about twenty such in the dungeons now, and they will furnish the most interesting entertainment of the games." "And if we are victorious, we are freed?" asked von Harben. "We shall not be victorious," said Mallius Lepus. "Fulvus Fupus has seen to that, you may rest assured." "It is terrible," muttered von Harben. "You are afraid to die?" asked Mallius Lepus. "It is not that," said von Harben. "I am thinking of Favonia." "And well you may," said Mallius Lepus. "My sweet cousin would be happier dead than married to Fulvus Fupus." "I feel so helpless," said von Harben. "Not a friend, not even my faithful body servant, Gabula." "Oh, that reminds me," exclaimed Lepus. "They were here looking for him this morning." "Looking for him? Is he not confined in the dungeon?" "He was, but he was detailed with other prisoners to prepare the arena last night, and during the darkness of early morning he is supposed to have escaped--but be that as it may, they were looking for him." "Good!" exclaimed von Harben. "I shall feel better just knowing that he is at large, though there is nothing that he can do for me. Where could he have gone?"