Caesar Dies

ontributed to Rome's adornment; plunder and trade goods drifted through in spite of distances. The city had become the vortex of the energy, virility and vice of east and west-a glory of ma

ong seat was on which philosophers discoursed to any one who cared to listen. The baths that the Emperor Titus built were the supreme, last touch of all. From furnaces below-ground, where the

men oftener than men shared litters with friends; then the troupe of attendants was doubled; slaves were in droves, flocks, hordes around the build

ly as not to be driven away, and even whipped, when the next man should succeed to office. In and out among the crowd ran tipsters, touts for gambling dens and sellers of charms; most of them found r

of admirers. A Christian, dressed like any other Roman, held one corner with a crowd around him. There was a tremendous undercurrent of reacti

tivated art, exchanged the folded garments for a bracelet with a number. Thence, stark-naked, through the bronze doors set in green- veined m

ng wits, exchanging gossip, some walking briskly around the promenade while others lo

ut, execrated and forever more refused admission. But out in the street, where the litter-bearer

fect of the palace. They were both pink-skinned from plunging in the pool, and the white scars, won in frontier wars, s

how long her hold over Caesar will last. She owns him at present owns him absolutely-owns Rome. He delights in letting her revoke his orders;

her Christians spy for him and ma

ainst them are ignored. They even go unpunished if they don't salute Caesar's image! They are allowed to preach against slavery. It has got so now that if a man condemned to death pretends he is a Christian they're even allowed to rescue him out of the carceres! That's Juno's truth: I know of a dozen instances. But it's the old story: Put a beggar on a horse and he will demand your hou

o substitute in popular

'll know, they'll persuade her it's against religion to be Caesar's mistress! They're quite capable of sawing o

asons to the emperor?" asked P

s. She talks about the dignity of Caesar and the glory of Rome-uses truth adroitly for her own ends-argues that if he conti

ps suggesting a mere flicker of a smile. "But o

Livius

I made her a present the other day of eight matched German' litter-bearers-beauties-they cost a fortune-and I took the opportunity to have a chat with her. She told me to go home and try to manage my own wife! Friendly enoug

s," said

turn the wave of the hand with which Marcia greeted every one before walking down the steps into the plunge. She did not even wear the customary bracelet with its numbered metal disk; not even the attendants at the Thermae would

r beauty, as her toes touched water, was like that of Aphrodite rising from the wave. The light from the dome shone golden on her brown hair

e up with fancy religions," s

. Neither he, who knew her intimately, nor the newest, newly shaven son of a provincial for the first

the diving-boards projected in tiers, one above the other, and passed through a bronze door into the first of the

to try to reason with

vi

possibly to banish thoughts he did not relish. There came a definite, hard glint into Livius's eyes; he had a name

't. He is reported to visit Rome in various disguises, and to be able to conduct himself so well that he can pass for a patrician. Some say he has a large band; some say, hardly any followers. Some say it was he who robbed the emperor's own mail a month ago. He is reported to be here, there, everywh

oked bored.

in and sweat a wh

rate him but supply him with victuals and news. Caesar went into one of his usual frenzies, cursed half the senators by name, and ordered out a cohort from a legion getting ready to embark at Ostia. He ordered them to lay waste the estate, burn all the woods and if

ty to point out to the emperor the inconvenience of keeping that legion waitin

plenty of people more c

as if he thought he ha

authorities, for instan

compla

e legion lingered there meant money for the enterprising city fathers

governor of Rome

ations at the palace,"

n one of his storms of imperial righteousness. He was going to stamp out lawlessness. He was going to make it safe for any one to come or go along the Roman roads. Oh, he was in a fine Augustan mood. It wasn't safe for any one but Marcia to come within a mile of him. Scowl-you know that scowl of his-it freezes the very sentries on the wall if he looks at their backs through the window! I don't suppose there was a woman in

ked at the bronze door leading to the sweating room, shruggin

y Jove can only guess what argument she used, but if Maternus had been one of her pet Christians she couldn

usiness to supply cohorts to do the work of the district police.

his is interesting: Marcia, that same night, sent a m

rtinax let a sign of

it a business to know what goes on," Livius answered with a dry laug

man look

ommon gossip in the

he gave me an insight into a number of useful secrets. The point is, that particular slave takes care not to run errands nowadays without informing me. There is not much that Marcia does that I don't know about." Livius' eyes suggested gimlets boring holes into Pertinax's face. Not a change of the oth

us conclusion and call it knowledge without making me doubt him on all points. You bore me, Livius.

rp, nervous lau

Antioch to have an unknown criminal executed in place of a certain Norbanus, who escaped with your connivance and has since become a follower of the highwayman Maternus. That involves you rather seriously, doesn't it! You see, I made sure of my facts before approaching you. And now-admit th

ile one of the men tried to win a wager by climbing a marble pillar. Pertinax frowned. Livius

except yourself," said Pertinax at last.

go with you to the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, an

smiled

as based on having rewon the allegiance of our troops in Britain, who had broken the most solemn oath a man can take-of loyalty to Rome. An oath binds nobody. It simply is an emphasis of what a man intends that minute. It expresses an emotion.

't like me?"

etter if I knew tha

sses! I will commit myself before

ced right and left. Th

the political chan

"Keep near me. I will think this matter over. If I se

d on me," said Livius. "I trust you