Your fate is fixed . Come . '' ` We came . When one takes Heather , one must obey one 's Pict -- but that wretched smoke was twenty miles distant , well over on the East coast , and the day was as hot as a bath . ' `` Whatever happens , '' said Allo , while our ponies grunted along , `` I want you to remember me . '' ' `` I shall not forget , '' said Pertinax . `` You have cheated me out of my breakfast . '' `` What is a handful of crushed oats to a Roman ? '' he said . Then he laughed his laugh that was not a laugh . `` What would you do if you were a handful of oats being crushed between the upper and lower stones of a mill ? '' ' `` I 'm Pertinax , not a riddle-guesser , '' said Pertinax . ' `` You 're a fool , '' said Allo . `` Your Gods and my Gods are threatened by strange Gods , and all you can do is to laugh . '' ' `` Threatened men live long , '' I said . ' `` I pray the Gods that may be true , '' he said . `` But I ask you again not to forget me . '' ` We climbed the last hot hill and looked out on the eastern sea , three or four miles off . There was a small sailing-galley of the North Gaul pattern at anchor , her landing-plank down and her sail half up ; and below us , alone in a hollow , holding his pony , sat Maximus , Emperor of Britain ! He was dressed like a hunter , and he leaned on his little stick ; but I knew that back as far as I could see it , and I told Pertinax . '
`` You 're madder than XXXXX ! ''
Allo Heather Maximus Pertinax Pict Roman coast landing-plank riddle-guesser sailing-galley