"A befouled nest!" said Narcissus.

"An Augean stable with a Hercules who doesn't do his work, I grant you!
But we can substitute another Hercules."

"Pertinax is too old," Narcissus objected, weakening, a trifle sulkily.

"He is old enough to wish to die in honor rather than dishonor. You and
I, Narcissus, have no honor--you a slave and I an outlaw. Let us win,
then, honor for ourselves by helping to heal Rome of her dishonor!"

"Oh well, have it your own way," said Narcissus, unconvinced. "A brass
as for your honor! The alternative is death or liberty in either case,
and as for me, I prefer friendship to religion, so I will follow you,
whichever road you take. Now go. These fellows mustn't recognize you.
It is time to take them one by one into the exercising yard. I daren't
take more than one at a time or they'd kill me even with the blunted
practise-weapons. I wish they might face Commodus as boldly as they
tackle me! I am a weary man, and many times a bruised one, I can tell
you, when the night comes, after putting twenty of them through their
paces."




IX. STEWED EELS



The training arena where Commodus worked off energy and kept his