s powerful man on whom so many injuries and wrongs had fallen, who
even in childhood had been deprived of the happiness of a mother's love,
had touched her tender heart. That which was afterward told to her she
had identified with her own humble life; she heard with a shudder that
it was to the malice of his brother that this unhappy being owed the
injury which, like a poisonous blight, had marred for him all the joys
of existence, while she owed all that was loveliest and best in her
young life to a brother's love.

The grounds on which Caracalla had based the assertion that destiny had
compelled him to murder Geta appeared to her young and inexperienced
mind as indisputable. He was only the pitiable victim of his birth and
of a cruel fate. Besides, the humblest and most sober-minded can not
resist the charm of majesty; and this hapless man, who had honored
Melissa with his confidence, and who had assured her so earnestly that
she was of such importance to him and could do so much for him, was the
ruler of the universe.

She had also felt, after Caesar's confession, that she had a right to
be proud, since he had thought her worthy to take an interest in the
tragedy in the imperial palace, as if she had been a member of the
court. In her lively imagination she had witnessed the ghastly act to
which he--as she had certainly believed, even when she had replied to
his question--had been forced by fate.

But the demand which had followed her answer now recurred to her. The
picture of Diodoros, which had completely vanished from her thoughts
while she had been listening, suddenly appeared to her, and, as she
fancied, he looked at her reproachfully.

Had she, then, transgressed against her betrothed?

No, no, indeed she had not!

She loved him, and only him; and for that very reason, her upright
judgment told her now, that it would be sinning against her lover to
carry out Caracalla's wish, as if she had become his fellow-culprit,
or certainly the advocate of the bloody outrage. She could think of
no answer to his "That is what you must and shall do!" that would not
awaken his wrath. Cautiously, and with sincere thanks for his confidence
in her, she begged him once more to allow her to leave him, because she
needed rest after such a shock to her mind. And it would also do him
good to grant himself a short rest. But he assured her he knew that
he could only rest when he had fulfilled his duty as a sovereign. His
father