They rested the last night at an inn , not within sight but somehow within feeling of Rome .sx Marcus dreamt that he had been elected , but something had gone wrong ; he woke with his knee aching as usual and watched the light in the room spread suddenly from dusk to dawn , and his slave asleep on the floor , rolled tight in a blanket , long and rather graceful with his red head on one arm and the other straight out and bare , with the fingers curling a little .sx There was a rich merchant of Pisa living that winter in Rome , where he had hired a house and servants ; with him was his daughter Decima , with a freckled face and black hair that came low on her forehead .sx She used to paint out the freckles every morning ; she could hardly read , and she dressed usually in shades of red .sx The Conservative leaders sent their young candidate to this merchant to raise the money for his election expenses .sx It was obvious , almost from the first , that if the Tribune chose to marry Decima he could have what funds he pleased , but if he did not choose he would have to go elsewhere .sx He had not got too long to do his business in ; he thought of his party and his career ; he decided that it would be worth it to get free of this constant trouble about money .sx The girl was the sort of fool who might do something he could divorce for over later on .sx So he approached her father , offering his heart and hand , and was accepted at once .sx Decima herself , or one of her maids , was listening behind every door ; she enjoyed every minute of it ; she saw herself at once as a political hostess , courted and supplicated , setting the fashions , not to be looked down on by anybody any more !sx And the Tribune was just the handsome young aristocrat she had always wanted , with these quick impatient movements , this dark violent bearing that made her father look heavy and colourless .sx Even the limp was added romance .sx Her hot body would slake itself in his cool one .sx It gave her the thrill of her life when at last he kissed her hand and was .sx formally betrothed to her ; she longed for him to carry her off then and there .sx Marcus Trebius found that , after all , he could not stand till the next election ; there was nothing to do but prepare the ground .sx Still , he could put the marriage off until autumn as well , and that was something .sx But Decima wept and threw things at her maids and broke her new ivory comb .sx Would he love her still after so long ?sx And - once she began to think of it - did he love her now ?sx The dishevelled maids assured her he did ; his apparent coldness was all part of his aristocratic breeding - wait till the time came to throw it off !sx So now , every morning , she practised the noble chill , and her maids applauded :sx this way were lovers caught and kept .sx From that she went on to practise the other airs and graces ; it was unfortunate for her that somehow she was never quite in time with the newest scent or the newest scandal .sx Still , she must persevere .sx This was all rather insupportable for Marcus Trebius , who was intelligent enough to have seen through the real thing that Decima only imitated .sx However , business is business .sx The old father was very much on the look-out for any slight on his daughter , so he had to be always writing her love-letters and making her compliments and sending her presents ; it would all have been quite easy if the girl too had looked on it as a cash proposition , but he could not help the disgusting certainty that she believed she was in love with him .sx She had a temper too ; he had heard her rating a slave in her own rooms , and seen her come out flushed and panting with little drops of sweat on her forehead still .sx It was an unpleasant thought that he would go to bed with that .sx But there !sx - she was only the least attractive step of the ladder to the consulship , and he was going back to Gaul soon .sx He went to pay his respects two days before he left , and got the dowry finally and satisfactorily settled with his father-in-law .sx Then the lady herself appeared with attendants , her hair dressed high on her head with pins of gold and cornelian ; her hands were hot and she did not seem able to keep still for a moment .sx Marcus expressed his regret at going :sx `But my betrothed will not forget me ?sx ' Decima's careful chill broke down at this , tears spurted into her eyes :sx `No , never !sx ' she gasped .sx The annoyed Tribune then asked what the beloved would have as a farewell gift , a token of remembrance .sx And what a ridiculous thing she had dreamed - she would of course !sx - of a ruby brooch for her mantle in the shape of a star with four different stones at the corners .sx A nice job he was going to have hunting about Rome for her disgusting brooch !sx He would do his best , but the time was short :sx there was no other gift she would care for ?sx She lay back against her cushions and shook her head .sx Yes , there was , though !sx `Oh , Marcus , that British slave of yours !sx Everyone who's anyone has a Briton now , and they're so dreadfully difficult to get !sx ' And what could have put that into her dirty , jealous little head ?sx `But that's not the kind of gift I would like you to have !sx No , I will search all Rome for the brooch .sx It shall be just as you describe it so charmingly .sx ' But by this time she was watching him like a cat .sx Yes , she knew it - he wouldn't !sx `I don't want the silly brooch now ; anyhow , father can give it me .sx I must have the slave !sx ' `But really , my dearest lady , what could you do with a soldier servant straight from the camp ?sx ' - he laughed uncomfortably - `I see I shall have to decide for you !sx What do you say to a pair of brooches ?sx ' `No !sx I want that man !sx You wouldn't refuse me if you loved me ever so little !sx ' All the same , he couldn't let her have her way .sx `Really , I shouldn't feel safe to do it .sx He's quite a savage , you know .sx He's afraid of me , but I couldn't risk letting him loose !sx Let us think of something else - anything - tell me , most beautiful !sx ' As if she believed him !sx She half sobbed :sx `There's nothing else I want !sx ' Opportunely her father came back with :sx `Why , what's the matter ?sx Not a lovers' quarrel already !sx ' Decima explained , with tears and clenched fists and protests that she would die of unhappiness unless her Marcus would give her tangible proof of his love !sx Her father laid a heavy and bourgeois hand on the Tribune's shoulder :sx `Give it her , my boy !sx You mustn't start saying no to ladies at your time of life !sx Besides , what's a slave more or less ?sx You can easily get another .sx I can let you have one of mine , an excellent man , for that matter' .sx Marcus at that felt a curious dim sinking .sx It was not true , surely , that he had given up his honour to these people , and now must go on giving up - indefinitely ?sx No , he was going to have the best of the bargain with them !sx When he was Consul he would be able to laugh at it all .sx And in the meantime what was it , after all ?sx Why in the name of fortune should he mind about a slave ?sx Decima , he saw , supposed he preferred the slave to her - well , so he did !sx That was easy .sx At the same time he was not going to let anything , including Rudd , stand between him and his money .sx He yielded gracefully and took his leave .sx On the other hand , as he got near his own lodgings he became rather uncomfortable at the thought of telling Rudd , and wondered whether he would put it off to the last moment , the very hour the gift was to be made .sx Rudd , running out to hold his horse , looked into his face and asked at once what was the matter .sx He looked down before dismounting , hesitated , and then , angry at his own foolishness , said sharply :sx `I've given you away .sx ' The Briton gasped , and dropped his head against the horse's , holding tight to the bridle .sx Marcus angrily suspected him of crying , jumped off his horse and pulled him away .sx Rudd was not even trying to cover his face ; he let go the rein and dropped on to the ground , doubled up , then grabbed at his master's knees :sx `Why ?sx ' he said , `What have I done ?sx ' `You stupid !sx ' said Marcus , `it's only to Decima , only till the marriage !sx ' And he pulled the boy's red hair cheerfully and told him to get up and laughed at him till he laughed back .sx Yes , that was all , till the marriage ; why be uncertain about it ?sx `But you're going back to Gaul !sx You said I was going too .sx ' `So I did .sx But you aren't - see ?sx Never mind , Rudd , you'll have a gay time in Rome , and I'll have to find someone else to clean my new helmet !sx ' They went in and Marcus watched Rudd doing up his baggage for the campaign , and thought how he would take it out of Decima one day .sx The next morning Rudd packed his own small bundle and started with his master for the new house ; he walked so close to the horse that it trod on his foot ; then he walked lame and that was particularly annoying for Marcus , first because it reminded him too much of himself , and then because what he liked best about the Briton was the gay and light way he moved :sx at least that was what he thought he liked best .sx Besides , though he did not think Rudd had really hurt his foot much , he wanted it seen to properly , and he became nervously aware how little he trusted the new household to look after his slave .sx He cursed Rudd for being such a fool , and then suddenly said :sx `Well , anyhow , when I marry her I shall free you .sx ' Rudd jumped at his hand and kissed it and as far as the door of the merchant's house he felt quite at his ease again .sx The actual giving away was rather unpleasant all the same .sx Decima's eyes shone , her lips parted in wet , red pleasure ; the Tribune preferred to look at his prospective father-in-law .sx As to Rudd , he just stood in the corner with his hands at his side , not looking in the least like himself .sx Marcus did not at all want to linger over this parting ; he kissed Decima's hand , longed to bite it and make her scream , and submitted to more kisses from the merchant as well as being called , very solemnly , his dear son .sx He went out past Rudd :sx `Good luck !sx ' he said , and put his two hands a moment on his shoulders .sx He felt himself watched out of the room , and , as he rode back , realized that Rudd had been trembling all over and that his fists had been violently clenched .sx However , he supposed everything .sx would be all right .sx Why shouldn't it be ?sx After all - it was ridiculous of Decima being jealous of that slave .sx Even she must see that .sx That spring and summer were trying too .sx There were no set battles , but long intolerable skirmishing with the last of the scattered rebels .sx It ended at last , and Gaul was peaceful ; Caesar had made a complete job of his victory and the Tribune was eager to get back to work against him in Rome .sx He had arranged by letter that the marriage should take place as soon as he was back ; he wanted to be sure of the money ; it was even conceivable that Decima might be improved after nine months' absence .sx