The Implacable Hunter (2013)
“Much of what he did, at that time, was done with half an eye on me.
I said: ‘I shall walk to my house to stretch my legs. Then a shave, a massage, and to business.’ ‘No sleep, Diomed?’ ‘Later, perhaps. An old soldier learns to sleep or wake at will. Go home and rest.’ ‘I made Barbatus happy,’ said Paulus.
‘So?’ I answered. ‘What is Barbatus to you?’ ‘Nothing, but I didn’t want to see him try, and fail,’ he said. ‘I hated to see Soxias playing with him.’ I laughed and said: ‘Soxias was p...laying with you, Paulus, and not with Barbatus.’ ‘I won the cup.’ ‘What does Soxias care for a cup?’ ‘It is worth a fortune!’ ‘And you gave it to Barbatus, for a gesture. Vanity, my dear Paulus, as your Solomon would have called it! And Soxias knows that in your heart you are biting your nails, and is amused – he made you give that cup to Barbatus! But never mind,’ I added, to console him, knowing that my words had hurt him, although his face did not change expression, ‘you are still one of the very few who have pleased Soxias and still kept their dignity; and done good business for your father at the same time.MoreLess
I said: ‘I shall walk to my house to stretch my legs. Then a shave, a massage, and to business.’ ‘No sleep, Diomed?’ ‘Later, perhaps. An old soldier learns to sleep or wake at will. Go home and rest.’ ‘I made Barbatus happy,’ said Paulus.
‘So?’ I answered. ‘What is Barbatus to you?’ ‘Nothing, but I didn’t want to see him try, and fail,’ he said. ‘I hated to see Soxias playing with him.’ I laughed and said: ‘Soxias was p...laying with you, Paulus, and not with Barbatus.’ ‘I won the cup.’ ‘What does Soxias care for a cup?’ ‘It is worth a fortune!’ ‘And you gave it to Barbatus, for a gesture. Vanity, my dear Paulus, as your Solomon would have called it! And Soxias knows that in your heart you are biting your nails, and is amused – he made you give that cup to Barbatus! But never mind,’ I added, to console him, knowing that my words had hurt him, although his face did not change expression, ‘you are still one of the very few who have pleased Soxias and still kept their dignity; and done good business for your father at the same time.MoreLess
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