He watched us passing buckets from the pond , and at last he said to me : `` Who are you ? '' ' `` A probationer , waiting for a command , '' I answered . I did n't know who he was from Deucalion ! ' `` Born in Britain ? '' he said . ' `` Yes , if you were born in Spain , '' I said , for he neighed his words like an Iberian mule . ' `` And what might you call yourself when you are at home ? '' he said , laughing . ' `` That depends , '' I answered ; `` sometimes one thing and sometimes another . But now I 'm busy . '' ` He said no more till we had saved the family gods -LRB- they were respectable householders -RRB- , and then he grunted across the laurels : `` Listen , young sometimes-one-thing-and-sometimes-another . In future call yourself Centurion of the Seventh Cohort of the Thirtieth , the Ulpia Victrix . That will help me to remember you . Your Father and a few other people call me Maximus . '' ` He tossed me the polished stick he was leaning on , and went away . You might have knocked me down with it ! ' ` Who was he ? ' said Dan . ` Maximus himself , our great General ! The General of Britain who had been Theodosius 's right hand in the Pict War !
Not only had he given me my XXXXX 's stick direct , but three steps in a good Legion as well !
Britain Centurion Dan Father General Iberian Maximus Pict Theodosius sometimes-one-thing-and-sometimes-another