THE ROBE (83 page)

Everyone had caught the contagion of hilarity. All serious work had been
abandoned, all discipline relaxed. The word had spread that this year's Ludi
Romani would be notable for its gaiety. The new Emperor was not stingy. Glum
old Tiberius, who frowned on amusements, was dead and buried. Tight-pursed old
Sejanus, who had doled out the sesterces--a few at a time--to Prince Gaius, was
also dead. So was Gaius--and good riddance it was, too. This season's Ludi
Romani would be worth attending! Little Boots would see to it that everybody
had a good time. Even the harried Christians could count upon a ten-day respite
from persecution, for the authorities would be too drunk to bother with them.

At Avezzano, the Senator's carriage halted in the shade near a fork in
the road. Marcellus, reining up alongside, dismounted to bid farewell to the
occupants, for their ways parted here. Thrusting his arm through the open
windows, he shook hands with his father, assuring him that they would meet
soon; and then with Demetrius, who, still weak, was much moved by their
parting. Marcellus tried bravely to keep his own voice under control.

'Safe journey, Demetrius!' he said. 'And success to all your
undertakings! It may be a long time before we meet--'

'Perhaps not, sir,' murmured Demetrius, smiling wanly.

'Well, be the time long or short, my friend, we shall meet! You believe
that, don't you?'

'With all my heart!'

Remounting the mettlesome Ishtar, Marcellus galloped away, waving a hand
as he turned south on the road to Arpino. Here the traffic was lighter and
better time could be made. As the road grew steep, Ishtar's enthusiasm cooled
somewhat, and she settled to an easy canter.

Now that he had seen Demetrius safely started on his journey, Marcellus
found his spirits reviving. He was on the way to Diana! Nothing else mattered
now. At Alatri, he fed Ishtar in the stableyard of the inn, while a slave, to
whom he had tossed a few coppers, rubbed her down. Leaving the town, Marcellus
led the mare for a mile, then, remounting, pressed on. The peaks of the
Apennines glistened in the afternoon sunshine.

It was deep in the night when he reached Arpino and was recognized by
the guard at the villa gate.

'Do not rouse anyone,' he said. 'I shall stable the mare and find some
place to sleep.'

Not content to trust even Kaeso's competent hostlers with the care of
Ishtar, Marcellus supervised her drinking, talking to her all the while in a
fraternal tone that made the stable-boys laugh. Learning that his former
quarters were unoccupied, he went to bed utterly exhausted by his experiences
during the past twenty-four hours.

Appius Kaeso had felt it an unnecessary precaution for Diana to work in
the vineyard through these days immediately preceding and during the Ludi
Romani which, he knew, would be occupying the full attention of all who were
interested in taking her to the Emperor.

Last night they had brought her back to the villa; and as this was the
first morning, for some time, that Diana could feel comparatively safe and at
leisure, Antonia had insisted upon her sleeping undisturbed until she was
thoroughly rested.

Coming out to the stables shortly after dawn, Kaeso learned of
Marcellus's arrival and went to his room, finding him awake. In the ensuing
half-hour of serious talk, they informed each other of everything that had
occurred since they parted. Kaeso, Marcellus observed, had lost much of his
impetuous bluster, but could still be identified by his willingness to offer
prompt advice.

'Why don't you marry Diana at once?' asked Kaeso. 'As you are supposed
to be dead, Caligula thinks he has a right to pretend an interest in her
welfare. When she becomes your wife, he has no further justification for
concerning himself about her.'

Marcellus, sitting half-dressed on the edge of his bed, seemed so lost
in meditation that Kaeso added, impatiently, 'You two are in love with each
other, aren't you?'

'Yes, but the fact is, Kaeso,' said Marcellus, disconsolately, 'Diana is
not at all sure that she wants to marry me.'

'Isn't sure?' retorted Kaeso. 'Of course she's sure! Why else would she
say she was engaged to you?'

'Did she say that?' Marcellus sat up attentively.

'Nothing less! Isn't it true?'

'Last time I saw her, Kaeso, she insisted that our marriage would be a
mistake, because of my being a Christian.'

'Pouf! Diana is as good a Christian as you are! If being a Christian
means showing sympathy and friendliness for people who are beneath you, Diana
is entitled to a prize! You should have seen her in the vineyard! For a week or
more she has been living in a small cottage, rooming it with the girl Metella,
to whom she has become much attached; and, as for Metella, it has transformed
her into another kind of person! You wouldn't know her!'

'I'm glad,' said Marcellus. 'I'm glad Diana has had this experience.'
His eyes clouded. 'But there is a great deal of difference between Diana's
willingness to practise Christian principles and my own obligation to associate
myself with a movement that the Government has outlawed--and spend my time with
men whose lives are in constant danger. That is what Diana objects to.'

'Well, you can't blame her for that!' snorted Kaeso.

'Nor me,' declared Marcellus. 'I have no choice in this matter.'

They met alone in the cool atrium. Antonia, who had been seated beside
him, suddenly broke off in the midst of what she was saying, and sped away.
Diana was slowly descending the marble stairway. Rising quickly to his feet,
Marcellus crossed the room to meet her. She hesitated for a moment at first
sight of him; then, with an ecstatic smile, threw herself into his arms.

'My beloved!' murmured Marcellus, holding her tightly to him. For a long
moment they stood locked in each other's arms, hungrily sharing the kiss she
had offered him. With closed eyes, and tiny breaths like a child's sobs, Diana
relaxed in his embrace.

'You came for me,' she whispered.

'I wish I could have you--always--darling.'

She nodded slowly, without opening her eyes.

'It was meant to be,' she breathed, softly.

'Diana!' He laid his cheek against hers, gently. 'Do you mean that? Are
you mine, in spite of everything?'

Reaching up both arms, she clasped them tightly around his neck and gave
him her lips passionately.

'To-day?' whispered Marcellus, deeply stirred.

She drew back to face him with wide eyes, bright with tears.

'Why not?' she murmured. Slipping out of his arms, she took him by the
hand. 'Come!' she said, happily. 'Let us tell them!' Her voice was tender.
'Marcellus, they have been so very good to me. This will please our friends.'

Antonia had joined Appius in the garden. Their faces beamed as Marcellus
and Diana came down the path, arm in arm, and they rose to meet them. Antonia
surprised Marcellus with a kiss that was by no means a mere performance of a
social duty, and Diana kissed Appius, to his intense gratification. Then she
hugged Antonia, joyfully.

'Appius,' she said, 'as the master of Arpino, you can marry us. Is that
not so?'

'It's the very best thing I do!' boasted Appius, thumping his chest.

'To-day?' asked Marcellus.

'Of course!' assured Appius.

'Let us sit down,' suggested Antonia, 'and make some plans. Now we can
have a quiet little wedding in the atrium, with nobody but the family--By the
way, where is Antony?'

'Not up yet,' said Marcellus. 'I've inquired for him.'

'Or, better still,' went on Antonia, 'we can invite everybody! These
people in Arpino love you both. It would be wonderful for them if--'

'Let's have it out on the green,' urged Diana.

'Where Marcellus used to talk to them,' said Appius.

'At sunset,' said Antonia.

'If we are agreed on that,' said Appius, 'I shall send word to Vobiscus
that they are to have a holiday. It will give them a chance to clean up, and be
presentable.'

'That's very kind,' said Marcellus.

'Here comes Antony now--the sluggard,' said his mother, tenderly. Antony
was sauntering along with his head bent, apparently in a profound study.
Presently he glanced up, paused momentarily, and then came running. Marcellus
embraced him affectionately.

'Why hasn't someone called me?' complained Antony. 'How long can you
stay with us, Marcellus?'

'We are going to keep them as long as we can, dear,' said his mother.
'Diana and Marcellus are to be married--tonight.'

Antony, stunned a little by the announcement, solemnly offered Marcellus
his hand. Then he turned to Diana, hardly knowing how to felicitate her.

'She's supposed to be kissed,' advised his father.

Antony flushed and appeared at a great disadvantage until Diana came to
his rescue with a kiss so frankly given that his composure was restored.

Saying that he must dispatch a servant to the vineyard, Kaeso turned
away. Antonia announced that if they were to have a party tonight, she would
have to do something about it without delay. Antony, surmising that he too was
expected to contrive an errand, remembered that he hadn't had his breakfast.
Marcellus and Diana sat down on the lectus, their fingers intertwined.

'Now you must tell me how Demetrius found you,' said Diana.

It was a long story, a moving story that brought the tears to her eyes.
Poor Demetrius--so loyal and so brave! And his restoration--so mysterious! How
happy to be free, and going home! And back to Theodosia!

'He hasn't much to offer her,' said Marcellus. 'The life of an active
Christian, my dear, is lightly held. Demetrius is not a man to shun danger.
However, Theodosia will love him no less on that account. If he goes to her,
she will take him for good or ill.'

'I think you meant a little of that for me,' murmured Diana. 'Very well,
Marcellus, I shall accept you that way.'

He drew her close and kissed her.

'Kaeso believes,' he said, after a long silence, 'and I agree with him,
that it may be fairly safe now for me to take you home to your mother. There is
no charge against you. There will be no point to Caligula's pretence of
rescuing you, after we are married.'

'But how about you, dear?' asked Diana, anxiously. 'There will be much
talk about your return, after you were thought to be drowned. Will it come to
the Emperor's ears that you are a Christian?'

'Very likely, but we must take that risk. Caligula is erratic. His
attention may be diverted from the Christians. The fact that my father is an
influential Senator might make the youngster think twice before arresting me.
In any case, you can't remain in seclusion indefinitely. Let's have done with
it--and see what comes of it.'

'When shall we go?'

'The Kaesos will be hurt if we rush away. Let us wait until the day
after tomorrow. The Ludi Romani will have begun. Perhaps we can make the trip
safely.'

'Without any attempt to avoid the patrols?'

'Yes, darling. If we were to disguise ourselves--and be apprehended--we
would have thrown our case away.'

Diana snuggled into his arms.

'I shall not be afraid,' she murmured, 'if you are with me.'

All afternoon the men of Arpino raked the grass on the village green.
Vobiscus superintended the building of a little arbour which the girls
decorated with ferns and flowers. All day long, the kitchens of the villa were
busy. The ovens turned out honey cakes. The air was heavy with the appetizing
aroma of lambs and ducks roasting on spits before hot charcoal fires. Kaeso's
vintner thought his master had gone mad when he learned that wine was to be
served to all Arpino!

The hum of voices on the green was hushed when the wedding-party
appeared at the villa gate. Then there arose a concerted shout! Cheers for
Diana! Cheers for Marcellus! Cheers, too, for the Kaesos!

They took their places under the little, impromptu portico, and a
silence fell as Kaeso--never so dignified--joined their hands and demanded them
to say that they wished to be husband and wife. In orotund tones, he announced
their marriage.

The wedded pair turned about to face the Arpinos. Another happy shout
went up! The Kaeso family offered affectionate wishes and caresses. For a
moment, the village wasn't sure what to do. An old man ventured to come forward
and take their hands, bobbing his head violently. Vobiscus came, strutting a
little, as became the overseer, followed by his wife, who wore the gayest shawl
present. More women came up, trailed by their husbands who shouldered
themselves along, grinning awkwardly and scratching an ear. Marcellus knew most
of them by name. Diana hugged Metella, and Metella cried. She was going to put
Marcellus off with a stiff little curtsy, but he caught her to him and kissed
her, which was by far the most noteworthy incident of the occasion. There were
cheers for Metella, who was so embarrassed she didn't know where to go or what
to do when she got there. Presently Appius Kaeso signalled Vobiscus that he
wanted to make an announcement, and Vobiscus gave a stentorian growl that
produced a profound silence. The master, he declaimed, had something to say.
Kaeso bade them to thefeast. Already the villa slaves were coming out through
the gate in an imposing procession, weighted by their pleasant burdens.

'Well,' said Kaeso, 'shall we return to the villa?'

'Oh, please, no!' said Diana. 'Let us have our dinner here--with them.'

'You surely are a precious darling!' murmured Marcellus.

'But we have ices!' protested Kaeso.

Diana slipped her arm through his, affectionately.

'They can wait,' she whispered.

Kaeso smiled down into her eyes, and nodded indulgently.

'Will you look at Antony?' laughed his mother. Antony, behind a table,
wearing an apron, was slicing lamb for the common people of Arpino.

Sarpedon told. With his professional pride deeply wounded, and nothing
left to lose in the regard of the Gallio household, he decided to make good his
threat to Marcellus.