and unless I get home to luncheon at once, I shall hardly have time
to find old Miriam for you, and get through our little affair with
her before sunset.'

'Stay. What force has he?'

'Forty thousand already, they say. And those Donatist ruffians are
with him to a man, if he can but scrape together wherewith to change
their bludgeons into good steel.'

'Well, go .... So. A hundred thousand might do it,' said he,
meditating, as Raphael bowed himself out. 'He won't get them. I
don't know, though; the man has the headof a Julius. Well--that
fool Attalus talked ofjoining Egypt to the Western Empire .... Not
such a bad thought either. Anything is better than being governed
by an idiot child and three canting nuns. I expect to be
excommunicated every day for some offence against Pulcheria's
prudery .... Heraclian emperor at Rome .... and I lord and master
on this side the sea. the Donatists pitted again fairly against the
orthodox, to cut each other's throats in peace .... no more of
Cyril's spying and tale-bearing to Constantinople .... Not such a
baddish of fare .... But then-it would take so much trouble!'

With which words, Orestes went into his third warm bath for that
day.



CHAPTER III: THE GOTHS