He asked if it was my wish to see you; but I could not yet dare to stand before your face, and so I answered him.

"It is well," said Totila.

"Prove yourself in some service to the Goths and to your country, then I will speak with you again." And straightway he charged me with a duty which I the more gladly undertook because it had some taste of danger.

He bade me enter Rome, and spread through the city a proclamation to the Roman people--' 'It was you who did that ?' interrupted the listener.

'We heard of its being done, but not by what hand.' 'With a servant whom I can trust, disguised, he and I, as peasants bringing food to market, I entered Rome, and remained for two days within the gates; then returned to Totila.