ad been wont
to administer justice. This vast hall was deserted, but from an inner
room on the left there came to the praefect's ear a curious sound like
the snarl of an angry feline creature, a sound which he knew could only
come from one human throat. Without hesitation he turned to whence that
sound had come. On the right of the huge semi-circular apse, which
contained the now vacant throne of Augustus, a narrow door led to the
small temple-like room which had once contained the great Emperor's
household gods.

A heavy curtain of embroidered silk masked this entrance. Taurus Antinor
pushed it back and walked in.

The temple derived its light solely from a small opening in the vaulted
ceiling; that light which came down in a narrow shaft was grey and dull
and failed to penetrate the dark and mysterious corners of the room.

Taurus Antinor's eyes were narrowed beneath his frowning brows as he
tried to pierce the gloom that lay beyond that shaft of light. He could
hear heavy breathing proceeding from there and the muttering of curses,
and anon he was able to spy a bundle of stained silken clothes that lay
in a heap and which seemed to shrink and to shrivel, to tremble and to
cower on the altar steps: a bundle of rags and a gleam of flaccid flesh
which stood for the majesty of Caesar.

All at once there was a raucous cry and a growl as of an animal enraged,
and the next second something hot and heavy threw itself with violent
force against the praefect, even whilst the sharp blade of a dagger
caught a gleam of reflected light.

But Taurus Antinor--well knowing the man whom he had come to help--was
fully prepared for the treacherous attack. With a rapid movement he had
made a shield of his mantle by winding it closely round his arm, and
holding it before his face. The dagger glanced against the woollen
material, rendered heavy and sodden with the rain, and Caligula,
unnerved by the futile effort, staggered back against the altar steps
while the dagger fell with a sharp sound upon the marble floor.

"Traitor!" came in hoarse gasps from the Caesar's throat. "Hast come to
murder me!"

"Ho! there! My guard! My guard!"

He was trying to shout, but terror was evidently choking him. He
struggled to his feet, and still trembling from head to foot, made
pitiable attempts to work his way round to a place of safety behind the
altar, whilst keeping his bloodshot eyes fixed upon the praefect.

"Hast come to murder me?" he g