to the
applause and the cheers that still rose in ceaseless echoes upwards to
the sky.

He did not hear the ironical laughter, nor yet the mocking comments on
his appearance, which was more that of a caricature than of a sentient
man. He was satisfied that all eyes were turned on himself and on the
majestic pomp which surrounded him. The standard-bearers were ordered to
wave the flags so that a cloud of purple and gold seemed to be wafted
all round his head, and he ordered the Augustas to group themselves
around him.

The people watched this pageant as they had done the earlier spectacles.
It was all a part of the show stage-managed for their amusement. They
were interested to see the Augustas, and those who knew mentioned the
various names to their less fortunate neighbours.

"Caesonia standeth next her lord. She gave him a love potion once, so
'tis said, because his passion for her was quickly on the wane. And 'tis
that love potion which hath made him crazy."

"And there are the Caesar's sisters, Drusilla and Livilla. Drusilla is
very beautiful."

"And there is Julia, the daughter of Drusus. She had been willing to
step into Caesonia's shoes."

"But Dea Flavia, daughter of Claudius Octavius, is the most beautiful
amongst them all!"

"Hail to Dea Flavia Augusta!" came from more than one enthusiastic
throat.

She was clad all in white, with strings of pearls round her neck and a
fillet of diamonds in her golden hair. Her face was very pale and her
lips never smiled. In her hands she held three tall sprays of lilies
scarce whiter than the smooth surface of her brow.

Everyone noticed that the Caesar specially commanded her to sit on his
left, Caesonia being on his right, and that the Augustas all frowned with
dissatisfaction at this signal honour paid to Dea Flavia.

Anon Caius Nepos, the praetorian praefect, came to the front of the
tribune, and in stentorian voice commanded everyone to kneel. All those
in the tribune did kneel immediately, the guard holding the standards,
the senators and the knights. The Augustas all knelt too, and the
patricians in the tribunes to right and left. Some of the people knelt,
but not by any means all, and Caius Nepos had to repeat his command
three or four times, and to threaten the immediate dispersal of the
audience and the clearing of the Amphitheatre before everyone at last
obeyed.

Caligula alone remained standing, and not far from him the praefect of
Rome leaning a