annr.pandora-第20部分

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　〃Madam；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　seek　my　services　for　a　house　of　ill　repute；　let　me　tell　you　now。。。　if　it　is　to　torture　and　force　young　girls　such　as　those　you　just　purchased；　if　you　order　me　to　advertise　their　charms　abroad；　I　won't　do　it。　It　is　as　dishonorable　to　me　as　to　steal　or　to　lie。　Why　do　you　want　me？〃
　The　tears　were　halted；　merely　resting　between　him　and　his　vision　of　the　world　around　him。　His　face　was　serene。
　〃Do　I　look　as　if　I　am　a　whore？〃　I　asked　him　with　shock。　〃Yea　gods；　I　wore　all　my　best　clothes。　I'm　doing　my　best　to　look　revoltingly　respectable　in　all　these　fancy　silks！　Do　you　see　cruelty　in　my　eyes？　Can't　you　believe　that　it　is　perhaps　the　tempered　soul　that　survives　grief？　One　need　not　fight　on　a　battlefield　to　have　courage。〃
　〃No；　Madam；　no！〃　he　said。　He　was　so　very　sorry。
　〃Then　why　fling　these　insults　at　me　now？〃　I　said；　full　of　hurt。　〃And　no；　I　agree　with　you；　what　you've　written　there；　our　Roman　poets　are　not　the　equals　of　the　Greeks。　I　don't　know　our　destiny　as　an　Empire　and　this　weighs　as　heavily　on　me　as　it　ever　did　on　my　Father　and　his　Father！　Why'？　I　don't　know！〃　I　turned　as　if　to　go；　but　I　had　really　no　intention　of　going！　His　insults　had　simply　gone　too　far。
　He　bent　towards　me　over　the　writing　table。
　〃Madam；〃　he　said　whispering　even　lower　and　with　greater　solicitude。　〃Forgive　me　my　rash　words。　You　are　absolutely　a　paradox。　Your　face　is　eccentrically　painted；　and　I　think　the　lip　rouge　is　not　properly　set。　You　have　rouge　on　your　teeth。　You　have　no　powder　on　your　arms。　You　wear　three　dresses　of　silk　and　I　can　see　through　all　of　them！　Your　hair　is　in　two　barbarian…style　braids　lying　on　your　shoulders；　and　you　are　raining　little　silver　and　gold　pins　galore。　Look　at　these　little　pins　falling。　Madam；　you　will　be　hurt　by　these　pins。　Your　mantle；　more　appropriate　for　evening；　has　fallen　on　the　ground。　Your　hems　drag　in　the　dirt。〃
　Not　missing　a　beat　of　his　speech；　he　reached　down　deftly　and　picked　up　the　palla；　standing　at　once　to　offer　it　to　me；　ing　round　the　table　with　a　heavy　shift　of　his　leg；　to　lay　the　palla　on　my　shoulders。
　〃You　speak　with　miraculous　speed；　and　stunning　gibes；〃　he　went　on；　〃yet　you　carry　a　huge　dagger　in　your　girdle。　It　should　be　hidden　on　your　forearm　under　your　mantle。　And　your　purse。　You　take　gold　out　of　it　to　pay　the　girls。　It's　huge；　carelessly　visible。　And　your　hands；　your　hands　are　beautiful；　fine　as　your　Latin　and　your　Greek；　but　they　are　deeply　creased　with　dirt　as　though　you　have　been　digging　in　the　Earth　itself。〃
　I　smiled。　I　had　stopped　my　tears。
　〃You　are　very　observant；〃　I　said　cheerfully。　I　was　charmed。　〃Why　did　I　have　to　cut　you　so　deeply　to　find　your　soul？　Why　can't　we　simply　reveal　ourselves　to　one　another？　I　need　a　strong　steward；　a　guardian　who　can　bear　arms；　run　my　house　and　protect　it　because　I　am　alone。　Can　you　really　see　through　all　this　silk？〃
　He　nodded。　〃Well；　now　that　the　mantle　is　over　your　shoulders　and　hiding　the。。。　the　dagger　and　the　girdle　…　〃He　blushed。　Then　as　I　smiled　at　him；　trying　to　regain　my　calm；　trying　to　fight　back　the　engulfing　darkness　that　would　take　away　all　confidence　from　me；　all　faith　in　any　task；　he　spoke　on。
　〃Madam；　we　learn　to　hide　our　souls　because　we　are　betrayed　by　others。　But　I　would　entrust　to　you　my　soul！　I　know　it；　if　you　would　reconsider　your　judgment！　I　can　protect　you；　I　can　run　your　house。　I　will　not　molest　your　little　girls。　But　mark；　for　all　my　time　fighting　in　Illyricum　I　have　one　leg。　I　came　home　from　three　years　of　bloody　constant　battle　to　lose　it　to　a　boar　because　a　spear；　poorly　tempered　and　made；　broke　as　I　thrust　it　into　the　boar。〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃　I　asked。
　〃Flavius；〃　he　answered。　This　was　a　Roman　name。
　〃Flavius；〃　I　said。
　〃Madam；　the　palla　is　slipping　again　from　your　head。　And　these　little　pins；　they　are　sharp；　they　are　everywhere；　they'll　hurt　you。〃
　〃Never　mind　that；〃　I　said；　though　I　let　him　drape　me　again　properly　as　if　he　were　Pygmalion；　and　I　his　Galatea。　He　used　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　But　the　mantle　was　already　soiled。
　〃Those　girls；〃　I　said；　〃whom　you　glimpsed。　They　are　my　household；　as　of　the　past　half…hour。　You　have　to　be　their　loving　master。　But　if　you　lie　in　any　woman's　bed　under　my　roof；　the　bed　had　better　be　mine。　I　am　flesh　and　blood！〃
　He　nodded；　at　a　total　loss　for　words。
　I　pulled　open　my　purse　and　took　out　what　I　thought　to　pay；　a　reasonable　price　in　Rome；　I　thought；　where　slaves　were　always　bragging　about　how　much　they　had　cost。　I　laid　down　the　gold；　oblivious　to　the　imprint　of　the　coin；　only　gauging　the　value。
　The　slave　stared　at　me　with　ever　increasing　fascination；　then　his　eyes　whipped　the　merchant。
　The　slimy；　merciless；　weasling　slave　trader　puffed　up　like　a　toad　and　told　me　this　priceless　Greek　scholar　was　to　be　auctioned　for　a　high　price。　Several　rich　men　had　expressed　interest。　An　entire　school　class　was　to　question　him　within　the　hour。　Roman　officers　had　sent　their　stewards　to　inspect　him。
　〃I　have　no　more　stamina　for　it；〃　I　said；　and　reached　in　my　purse　again。
　At　once；　my　new　slave　Flavius　put　his　hand　out　gents　to　prevent　me。
　He　glared　at　the　merchant　with　great　authority　and　fearless　contempt。
　〃For　a　man　with　one　leg！〃　said　Flavius　between　his　teeth。　〃You　thief！　You　charge　my　Mistress　that；　here　in　Antioch；　where　slaves　are　so　plentiful　the　ships　take　them　on　to　Rome；　for　it's　the　only　way　to　cut　their　losses！〃
　I　was　quite　impressed。　All　had　gone　so　well。　The　darkness　flowed　back　away　from　me；　and　there　seemed　for　the　moment　a　divine　meaning　in　the　warmth　of　the　sun。
　〃You　cheat　my　Mistress　and　you　know　it！　You're　the　scum　of　the　Earth！〃　he　went　on。　〃Madam；　do　we　ever　purchase　from　this　scoundrel　again？　I　advise　never！〃
　The　slave　trader　broke　into　an　inane　smile；　a　hideous　grimace　of　cowardice　and　stupidity；　bowed　and　gave　me　back　a　third　of　what　I'd　given　him。
　I　could　hardly　keep　from　another　burst　of　laughing。　I　had　to　fetch　the　mantle　from　the　ground　again。　Flavius　did　it。　This　time；　I　knotted　it　properly　in　front。
　I　looked　at　the　gold　which　had　been　returned；　scooped　it　up；　entrusted　it　to　Flavius　and　off　we　went。
　When　we　had　plunged　into　the　thick　crowd　in　the　center　of　the　Forum　I　did　laugh　and　laugh　at　the　whole　affair。
　〃Well；　Flavius；　you're　protecting　me　already；　saving　me　money；　giving　me　excellent　advice。　If　there　were　more　men　like　you　in　Rome；　the　world　might　be　better　for　it。〃
　He　was　choked　up。　He　couldn't　talk。　It　was　an　effort　to　whisper：
　〃Lady；　you　have　on　trust　my　body　and　soul　forever。〃
　I　went　up　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　his　cheek。　I　realized　that　his　nakedness；　the　filth　of　the　loincloth；　all　this　was　a　disgrace　he　bore　without　a　sign　of　protest。
　〃Here；〃　I　said；　giving　him　some　money。　〃Take　the　girls　home；　put　them　to　work；　then　you　go　to　the　baths。　Get　clean。　Get　Roman　clean。　Have　a　boy　if　you　want。　Have　two。　Then　buy　fine　clothes　for　yourself；　not　slave　clothes；　mind　you；　but　clothes　that　you　would　buy　for　a　rich　young　Roman　Master！〃
　〃Madam；　please　hide　that　purse！〃　he　said　as　he　took　the　coins。　〃And　what　is　my　Mistress's　name'？　To　whom　shall　I　say　I　belong；　if　asked。〃
　〃To　Pandora　of　Athens；〃　I　said。　〃Though　you　shall　have　to　fill　me　in　on　the　current　state　of　my　birthplace；　because　I　have　never　actually　been　there。　But　a　Greek　name　serves　me　well。　Now；　go。　See；　the　girls　watch！〃
　Lots　of　people　were　watching。　Oh；　this　red　silk！　And　Flavius　was　such　a　splendid　figure　of　a　male。
　I　kissed　him　again；　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　calculatingly；　devil　that　I　am；　〃I　need　you；　Flavius。〃
　He　looked　down　at　me；　awestruck。　〃I　am　yours　forever；　Madam；〃　he　whispered。
　〃Are　you　sure　you　can't　do　with　me　in　bed！〃
　〃Oh；　believe　me；　I　have　tried！〃　he　confessed；　flushing　again。
　I　made　my　hand　into　a　fist　and　punched　his　muscular　arm。
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。
　The　damsels　had　already　risen；　at　my　gesture。　They　knew　I　sent　him　to　them。
　I　gave　him　my　key；　the　directions　to　my　house；　described　the　particularities　of　its　gate；　and　the　old　bronze　lion　fountain　right　inside　the　gate。
　〃And　you；　Madam？〃　he　asked。　〃You're　going　in　the　crowd　unacpanied？　Madam；　the　purse　is　huge！　It's　full　of　gold。〃
　〃Wait　till　you　see　the　gold　in　the　house；〃　I　said。　〃Appoint　yourself　the　only　one　who　can　open　chests；　and　then　hide　them　in　obvious　places。　Replace　all　the　furniture　I've　smashed　in　my。。。　my　solitude。　There　are　many　pieces　stored　in　rooms　above。〃
　〃Gold　in　the　house！〃　He　was　alarmed。　〃Chests　of　gold！〃
　〃Now；　don't　worry　about　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　where　to　seek　help　now。　And　if　you　betray　me；　if　you　steal　my　legacy　and　I　find　my　house　ruined　when　I　return；　I　suppose　I　shall　have　deserved　it。　Cover　up　the　chests　of　gold　with　carpets。　The　place　has　heaps　of　little　Persian　carpets。　Look　upstairs。　And　tend　to　the　Shrine！〃
　〃I　shall　do　everything　you　ask　and　more。〃
　〃So　I　thought。　A　man　who　cannot　lie　cannot　steal。　Now　the　sun　is　intolerable　here。　Go　to　the　girls。　They　wait。〃
　I　turned。
　He　caught　me　by　ing　round　in；　front　of　me。
　〃Madam；　there　is　something　I　must　tell　you。〃
　〃What！〃　I　said　with　an　ominous　face。　〃Not　that　you're　a　eunuch；〃　I　said。　〃Eunuchs　don't　grow　muscles　in　their　arms　and　legs　like　that。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　Then　he　took　on　a　sudden　gravity。　〃Ovid；　you