were always willing to give him. They did not know of
his treachery to them; nothing, indeed, had occurred to make them guess
that the man who, in a sense, had been the leader and organiser of their
party, had betrayed them all to the Caesar in the hopes of greater gains,
once he knew that his adherents had no thought of offering him the
imperium.

The events of yesterday had changed the whole trend of Caius Nepos'
ambitions. The people in its present temper was not like to accept him
as the Caesar, even if he could persuade the praetorian guard to acclaim
him as such.

His one desire being his own advancement and his own interests, he had
already realised that these were best served by adherence to Dea
Flavia's fortunes, since the Caesar himself, whilst still in the fulness
of his power had named her and her descendants as his successors for all
times. Caius Nepos, quick to seize his chance, and seeing the party of
patrician malcontents aimless without a leader, had grasped his
opportunity and constituted himself once more their organiser.

Now whilst the others grouped themselves at a respectful distance round
the Augusta, he stood quite close to her, with back bent and his face in
shadow.

"Augusta," he began, "meseems that in thy heart thou hast already
guessed the purpose of our coming. The hour is rife and we do but wait
thy command. We are at one in this: the praetorian guard will follow my
dictates, the patriciate of Rome will bow the knee to thee. Augusta, the
hour is rife! a raging madman, a cruel mountebank and abject coward has
this day forfeited all rights to sit on the throne of Augustus, thine
immortal kinsman. Augusta, art prepared to deliver Rome finally from
under the heel of a tyrant, and thyself to place the sceptre of Augustus
in the hands of one who were worthy of the prize?"

"I, my lord?" she asked coldly, for Caius Nepos had paused in his
oratory, "I? How can I--a woman--decide on this great point? 'Tis for
the legions to proclaim their Caesar...."

"The legions," he broke in quietly, "will follow in the wake of the
praetorian guard, and the praetorian guard will listen to my voice. They
believe that the Caesar is dead; they will soon believe that the will of
Rome lies in this, that the final choice of his successor shall rest
with thee."

Then as she made no reply but sat quite still and thoughtful, her small
hand shielding her face so that it was in shadow, her elbow resting on
the de