"We have already heard of this barbarian chief," said Validus, with a sneer. Favonius and Lepus glanced at Fupus. "Why was I not immediately notified of the capture of this prisoner?" This time the Emperor directed his remarks to Mallius Lepus. "There has been little delay, Caesar," replied the young officer. "It was necessary that he be bathed and properly clothed before he was brought here." "It was not necessary that he be brought here," said Validus. "There are dungeons in Castrum Mare for prisoners from Castra Sanguinarius." "He is not from Castra Sanguinarius," said Septimus Favonius. "Where are you from and what are you doing in my country?" demanded Validus, turning upon von Harben. "I am from a country that your historians knew as Germania," replied Erich. "And I suppose you learned to speak our language in Germania," sneered Validus. "Yes," replied von Harben, "I did." "And you have never been to Castra Sanguinarius?" "Never." "I presume you have been to Rome," laughed Validus. "Yes, many times," replied von Harben. "And who is Emperor there now?" "There is no Roman Emperor," said von Harben. "No Roman Emperor!" exclaimed Validus. "If you are not a spy from Castra Sanguinarius, you are a lunatic. Perhaps you are both, for no one but a lunatic would expect me to believe such a story. No Roman Emperor, indeed!" "There is no Roman Emperor," said von Harben, "because there is no Roman Empire. Mallius Lepus tells me that your country has had no intercourse with the outside world for more than eighteen hundred years. Much can happen in that time--much has happened. Rome fell, over a thousand years ago. No nation speaks its language today, which is understood by priests and scholars only. The barbarians of Germania, of Gallia, and of Britannia have built empires and civilizations of tremendous power, and Rome is only a city in Italia." Mallius Lepus was beaming delightedly. "I told you," he whispered to Favonius, "that you would love him. By Jupiter, I wish he would tell Validus the story of the litters that travel fifty thousand paces an hour!" There was that in the tone and manner of von Harben that compelled confidence and belief, so that even the suspicious Validus gave credence to the seemingly wild tales of the stranger and presently found himself asking questions of the barbarian. Finally the Emperor turned to Fulvus Fupus. "Upon what proof did you accuse this man of being a spy from Castra Sanguinarius?" he demanded. "Where else may he be from?" asked Fulvus Fupus. "We know he is not from Castrum Mare, so he must be from Castrum Sanguinarius." "You have no evidence then to substantiate your accusations?" Fupus hesitated. "Get out," ordered Validus, angrily. "I shall attend to you later."