ds of innocent
victims later on, that it would mean civil strife, and uncountable
misery. And all that he heard was the voice of Him Who had bidden him to
render unto Caesar that which was Caesar's, namely his allegiance, his
fealty, his life.

The city guard loved him and knew his voice. He had no trouble in
inducing the men to let him pass through their ranks and to mount the
steps before them which led to the imperial tribune. They let him pass
perhaps because they thought that their praefect would wish to take his
revenge with his own hands. The gods themselves would have placed a
poisoned dagger in the hand of him who had been so ruthlessly exposed to
a most horrible death.

And as Taurus Antinor's massive figure was seen to mount the steps, the
audience broke into cheers.

"Hail Taurus Antinor! the god of valour and of strength!"

Whilst more ominous than before came that other cry: "Death to the
tyrant! Death to the Caesar! Death!"

And whilst the city guard followed closely on the footsteps of their
praefect, and men among the crowd prepared for the inevitable fight
which they foresaw, the women and those who were feeble and pacific
waved fans and cloaks about and threw dead roses across the arena, till
the whole place seemed like a great pageant of many-coloured flags, over
which the midday sun had thrown its veil of gold.

When Taurus Antinor reached the topmost step Caligula caught sight of
him, and the intensity of his rage was such that his cheeks turned livid
and blotchy and hoarse inarticulate sounds escaped his panting throat.

Even at this same moment the group composed of Escanes and the others
seemed to sway in a mass toward the tribune of the Caesar. They appeared
to be consulting Hortensius Martius who had nodded encouragingly. Young
Escanes was in the very centre of the group now, his hand was still
hidden in the folds of his tunic and the look in his face told Taurus
Antinor all that there was to fear.

At his feet as he stepped into the tribune lay his own cloak which he
had discarded when first his instinct had prompted him to run to
Hortensius' aid. Now he picked it up. It was of dark-coloured stuff,
unadorned with the usual insignia of dignity and rank. With it in his
hand he ran quickly toward the Caesar.

Caligula saw him coming towards him, his yellow teeth were chattering in
his mouth, he stood there palsied with fear, a prey to a deadly feeling
of hate and to one of abject terr