He may welcome me as a brother-Emperor , or he may be preparing an army . In either case I can not spare men just now . '' ` But he was always saying that , ' cried Una . ` It was true . He did not make excuses ; but thanks , as he said , to the news of his victories , we had no trouble on the Wall for a long , long time . The Picts grew fat as their own sheep among the heather , and as many of my men as lived were well exercised in their weapons . Yes , the Wall looked strong . For myself , I knew how weak we were . I knew that if even a false rumour of any defeat to Maximus broke loose among the Winged Hats , they might come down in earnest , and then -- the Wall must go ! For the Picts I never cared , but in those years I learned something of the strength of the Winged Hats . They increased their strength every day , but I could not increase my men . Maximus had emptied Britain behind us , and I felt myself to be a man with a rotten stick standing before a broken fence to turn bulls . ` Thus , my friends , we lived on the Wall , waiting -- waiting -- waiting for the men that Maximus never sent . ` Presently he wrote that he was preparing an army against Theodosius . He wrote -- and Pertinax read it over my shoulder in our quarters : '' Tell your Father that my destiny orders me to drive three mules or be torn in pieces by them . I hope within a year to finish with Theodosius , son of Theodosius , once and for all . Then you shall have Britain to rule , and Pertinax , if he chooses , Gaul . To-day I wish strongly you were with me to beat my Auxiliaries into shape . Do not , I pray you , believe any rumour of my sickness . I have a little evil in my old body which I shall cure by riding swiftly into Rome .
'' ` Said XXXXX : `` It is finished with Maximus .
Father Hats Maximus Pertinax Picts Rome Una day rumour years