ay, her eyes met those of Taurus
Antinor, but this time it seemed to him that within their still
mysterious depths he read something akin to an appeal.

As on that day in the Forum, intense pity--which had given birth to
love--filled his heart for this beautiful young girl who seemed so
lonely in the midst of all this pomp.

The purity of her soul appeared to him undimmed, even though he knew now
that she had expected this awful thing all along, and that she was no
stranger to this monstrous barter of her person for the attainment of a
crazy Emperor's whim, or to make holiday for the rabble of Rome. In his
sight her pride remained unshaken; only her loyalty and allegiance had
been given to the Caesar in the same way as his own had been. She, in her
simple, womanly way, was rendering unto Caesar that which was Caesar's,
and Taurus Antinor, whilst tenderly pitying her, felt that he had never
loved her as fondly as he did now.

The curse of the dying freedwoman was indeed bearing fruit. Dea's
favours, her loyalty, were turning to bitter malediction for the
recipients. More than one man to-day, mayhap, would die an horrible
death in the hope of winning her grace. And Taurus Antinor, in the
silent depths of his soul, prayed unto God that the woman he loved
should never--as Menecreta had foretold--be driven to beg for mercy from
a heart that knew it not and find a pitiless ear turned to her prayers.

Caligula had quickly shaken himself free from the arms that held him.
The fainting fit which had threatened him passed away as swiftly as it
had come. His lust of hate and revenge was so keen at this moment that
it conquered all his physical weakness. When he realised that it was
Taurus Antinor who was supporting him, he contrived to smile benignly
and placidly upon him.

"I am well! I am well!" he reiterated cheerfully. "Did my voice carry
all over the Amphitheatre? Did everyone hear what I said?"

"Everyone heard thy voice, O Caesar!" said Taurus Antinor slowly, "and
see the aspirant for the Augusta's hand has prepared to do battle for
her sake!"

CHAPTER XXI

"But truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is
but a step between me and death."--I SAMUEL XX. 3.

When the Caesar had finished speaking, and he fell swooning back in the
arms of the praefect of Rome, the conspirators remained quite still,
staring at one another, dumbfounded.

Could any man at that moment have divined the secrets of