While Bridget was still present he pretended he had come to consult the Oracle officially as the representative of the Roman Governor to find out what the Goddess predicted for the forthcoming ceremony when the new statue would be raised in the forecourt.
Having delivered his speech, he turned to Bridget and insisted they should be left alone. The older woman seemed about to protest, but the centurion indicated that there was no question of her staying. Reluctantly she withdrew with a last anxious look across the water at her protégé. It was not usual for the Romans or the Romanized Celts to consult the Oracle of Sul since they had their own Haruspex. What was the real meaning of his visit? She hovered anxiously at the entrance, but at last moved away as it became clear the centurion woul
