EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
Chapter Eight
Mallius Lepus conducted von Harben from the quarters of the captain of the gate in the south wall of the island city of Castrum Mare and, summoning a soldier, bade him fetch Gabula.
“You shall come with me as my guest, Erich von Harben,” announced Mallius Lepus, “and, by Jupiter, unless I am mistaken, Septimus Favonius will thank me for bringing such a find. His dinners lag for want of novelty, for long since has he exhausted all the possibilities of Castrum Mare. He has even had a black chief from the Western forest as his guest of honor, and once he invited the aristocracy of Castrum Mare to meet a great ape.
“His friends will be mad to meet a barbarian chief from Germania—you are a chief, are you not?” and as von Harben was about to reply, Mallius Lepus stayed him with a gesture. “Never mind! You shall be introduced as a chief and if I do not know any different I cannot be accused of falsifying.”
Van Harben smiled as he realized how alike was human nature the world over and in all periods of time.
“Here is your slave now,” said Mallius. “As the guest of Septimus Favonius you will have others to do your bidding, but doubtless you will want to have your own body-servant as well.”
“Yes,” said von Harben. “Gabula has been very faithful. I should hate to part with him.”
Mallius led the way to a long shed-like building beneath the inner face of the rampart. Here were two litters and a number of strapping black bearers. As Mallius appeared eight of these sprang to their stations in front and behind one of the litters and carried it from the shed, lowering it to the ground again before their master.
“And tell me, if you have visited Rome recently, does my litter compare favorably with those now used by the nobles?” demanded Malius.
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