Now Verus's black eyes suddenly blazed upon the bold soldier, then after a swift side-glance at Gelimer were again bent calmly on the floor. "Or do you deny it?" "No," fell almost inaudibly from the scarcely parted lips. "Do you hear that, brother?" Gelimer hastily advanced a step nearer to Verus. "It was to tell you this that I requested an immediate interview," said the latter, quietly, turning his back on Zazo. "That's what I call presence of mind!" cried Zazo, laughing loudly. "But how will you prove it?" "I have brought the proof that Pudentius is a traitor," Verus went on, turning to Gelimer, without paying the slightest attention to his accuser. "Here it is." He slowly threw back his cloak, passed his hand through the folds of his under garment, and after a short search drew from his breast a small, crumpled strip of papyrus, which he handed to Gelimer, who hurriedly unfolded it, and read,-- "In spite of your warning, we shall persist. Belisarius is perhaps already on the way. Give this to the King." Both Vandals were startled. "That letter?" asked Gelimer. "Was written by Pudentius." "To whom?" "To me." "Do you hear, brother?" exclaimed Zazo. "He betrays--" "The betrayers," Verus interrupted. "Yes, Gelimer, I have acted while you were hesitating, pondering, and this brave fool was sleeping, or--blustering. You remember, long ago I warned you that the King and his nephews were negotiating with Constantinople." "Did he do so really, brother?" asked Zazo, eagerly. "Long ago. And repeatedly." Zazo shook his brown locks, angry, wondering, incredulous. But he said firmly,-- "Then forgive me, priest,--if I have really done you injustice." "Pudentius," Verus continued, without replying, "was, I suspected, the go-between. I gained his confidence." "That is, you deceived him--as you are perhaps deluding us," muttered Zazo. "Silence, brother!" Gelimer commanded imperiously. "It was not difficult to convince him. My family, like his, had by your kings--" he interrupted himself abruptly. "I expressed my anguish; I condemned your cruelty." "With justice! Woe betide us, with justice!" groaned Gelimer, striking his brow with his clenched fist. "I said that my friendship for you was not so strong as my resentment for all my kindred. He initiated me into the conspiracy. I was startled; for, in truth, unless God worked a miracle to blind him, the Vandal kingdom was hopelessly lost. I warned him--to gain time until your return--of the cruel vengeance you would take upon all Romans if the insurrection should be suppressed. He hesitated, promised to consider everything again, to discuss the matter once more with the King. There--this note, brought to me by a stranger to-day in the basilica, contains the decision. Act quickly, or it may be too late." Gelimer gazed silently into vacancy. But Zazo drew his sword and was rushing from the hall.