' Then shall the
commander of the cohorts go quickly and take possession of the royal
palace and await the new king."
Vergilius turned quickly in the direction of the fateful voice. He had
begun to suspect a plot. In a moment he saw to the very depths of its
cunning. Here was a band of conspirators meeting in the darkness and
speaking in disguised voices. Probably no member had ever seen the
face of another, and the betrayal of a name was, therefore, impossible.
Vergilius, now commander of the castle, heard with consternation of his
part in the programme. By some movement of the speaker's body an end
of his girdle was flung against the hand of Vergilius. Immediately the
young Roman laid hold of the silken cord. Tracing it stealthily, to
make sure of its owner, he drew his dagger and cut the girdle in twain,
hiding an end of it in his bosom.
"The new king is in Rome," the speaker added. "Presently you shall
hear the voice of his herald, whose face I know not, but of whose
fidelity and wisdom. I have long been sure. He will give you further
revelation of our purposes.
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