And then he could restrain himself no longer, comical, respectful little monkey that he was, and sobbed aloud.
Lucius laid his hand on the boy's curly head:
"Because the snakes wouldn't dance any more!" sobbed Tarrar, in despair. "Because one of them is dead and the other gone, for it crept out of its skin and left its skin behind! Because, whatever pains I took to pipe the magic tune on the flute--in the garden behind the house, so as not to make a noise or disturb you--the snakes would not dance any more ... as they did when the merchant piped to them! And because now ... one of the snakes is dead, my lord, and the other crept away out of its skin!"
And Tarrar, overcome with misery, sobbed aloud and showed his master the snake and the ebony casket, from which a skin hung, with a square piece of glass gummed to the head.
Lucius gave a melancholy smile. Was he not himself miserable, like Tarrar, because he too had been robbed of his plaything? And he said:
And he took the little slave by the hand and led him to his room.
He sat down, with Tarrar standing in front of him. Then he said:
"Tarrar, I am sorry for hurting you so badly. Forgive me, Tarrar."
"It is not for me to forgive you, my lord," he said, earnestly, with great, dim eyes. "You are the master."
"Tarrar," Lucius continued, "when we are back in Rome, you shall be free. I will set you free. And you shall no longer be a little slave. But you shall go to school, to the freedmen's college. And learn all sorts of things. And become very clever, like Thrasyllus. And I will give you money. And you will be able to do whatever you please."
"You are very kind, my lord," he said. "But, if I go to school, who will fold your clothes? And listen for your gong? You are not driving me away, my lord, because I was so unhappy? I would rather stay with you, my lord, I would rather remain your little slave ... and I will never again be so disrespectful as to weep.... I would rather remain your stupid little slave."
"You shall be free, Tarrar. But you will be allowed to serve me all the same."
"I don't want to be free, my lord. What use is freedom to me? I am your little slave. I should always be your little slave just as before."
"Then ask me something else, Tarrar, something that you would like very much."