These words served to whet Crispus’ curiosity. He expressed a wish to see his prospective bride. “See her you will not; she will be veiled during the ceremony. Nor will you hear her voice, for she will not speak. When the rite is over you will resume your journey to Cæsarea.” “Without seeing the face of my wife!” gasped Crispus in amazement. Was there ever so strange a marriage proposal? “It is my will that you shall not know whom you have married. The lady is beautiful, high-born, and brings a crown as a dowry. Is not that enough?” “And when will my bride be made known to me?” “On the day when you assume the scepter.” “And the date of that event?” “As I have said, at the end of three years.” “The word of Polemo is his bond,” said Crispus, “but seeing that--_absit omen!_--you may be dead ere the three years be past, what warranty shall I then have of the due execution of this, your promise?” “This,” replied the king, producing a parchment-scroll and unrolling it. “’Tis yours as soon as the nuptial ceremony be over.” Crispus ran his eye over the scroll, and saw that it was what Roman lawyers would call an _instrumentum_--in other words, a legally-executed document, constituting him the heir of Polemo in the sovereignty of Pontus. It was subscribed with the signature of the king, and, what was of far more weight, with that of Nero himself. “Do you assent?” “I assent.” “Consider well; remember that you are to pledge yourself to remain faithful to Athenaïs, who in turn pledges herself to remain faithful to you. Should you in this interval be found breaking your vow by offering love to any woman--yea, even though it be to your own unknown wife”--Crispus smiled at the supposition--“you lose the crown of Pontus.” “Your terms are strange, but I abide by them.” “You are ready to wed?” “This very hour.” “You promise not to lift her veil? You are content not to hear her voice? You are willing to depart as soon as the rite is over? You promise with your friend to observe secrecy as touching this night’s work?” There was a light as of triumph in Polemo’s eyes when the two Romans gave assent to these terms. It confirmed Crispus in his belief that the king was using him as an instrument of vengeance. But, as before, he said within himself, “What matters?” “With what rites do we wed?” asked Crispus. “With the words customary in your own Roman nuptial ceremonies, confirming them by placing this token upon the finger of the bride,” returned Polemo.