rder. Without dressing, he
went to the window. It was about three hours before sunrise.

However, he gave orders that his bath should be prepared, and desired to
be dressed; then Macrinus and others were to be sent for. Sooner would
he step into boiling water than return to that bed of terror. Day, life,
business must banish his terrors. But then, after the evening would come
another night; and if the sufferings he had just gone through should
repeat themselves then, and in those to follow, he should lose his wits,
and he would bless the spirit of Tarautas if it would but come to lead
him away to death.

But "the deed"! The Indian was right--that would survive him on earth,
and mankind would unite in cursing him.

Was there yet time--was he yet capable of atoning for what was done by
some great and splendid deed? But the hundred thousand--

The number rose before him like a mountain, blotting out every scheme
he tried to form as he went to his bath--taking his lion with him; he
reveled in the warm water, and finally lay down to rest in clean
linen wrappers. No one had dared to speak to him. His aspect was too
threatening.

In a room adjoining the bath-room he had breakfast served him. It was,
as usual, a simple meal, and yet he could only swallow a few mouthfuls,
for everything had a bitter taste. The praetorian prefect was roused,
and Caesar was glad to see him, for it was in attending to affairs that
he most easily forgot what weighed upon him. The more serious they
were, the better, and Macrinus looked as if there was something of grave
importance to be settled.

Caracalla's first question was with reference to the Parthian
ambassadors. They had, in fact, departed; now he must prepare for war.
Caesar was eager to decide at once on the destination of each legion,
and to call the legates together to a council of war; but Macrinus
was not so prompt and ready as usual on such occasions. He had that
to communicate which, as he knew, would to Caesar take the head of all
else. If it should prove true, it must withdraw him altogether from the
affairs of government; and this was what Macrinus aimed at when, before
summoning the legates, he observed with a show of reluctance that Caesar
would be wroth with him if, for the sake of a council of war, he were to
defer a report which had just reached his ears.

"Business first!" cried Caracalla, with decisive prohibition.

"As you will. I thought only of what I was told by