confessing to him that she was another's bride, for that might determine
him to let Diodoros feel his power. The thought that the emperor could
care about her good opinion greatly pleased her; it even had the effect
of raising the hope in her inexperienced mind that Caracalla would
moderate his passion for her sake--when old Adventus came into the room.

He was in a hurry; for preparations had to be made in the dining-hall
for the reception of the ambassadors. But when at his appearance Melissa
rose from the divan he begged her good-naturedly to continue resting.
No one could tell what humor Caracalla might be in when he returned. She
had often seen how rapidly that chameleon could change color. Who that
had seen him just now, going to meet his soldiers, would believe that
he had a few hours before sent away, with hard words, the widow of the
Egyptian governor, who had come to beg mercy for her husband?

"So that wretch, Theocritus, has really carried out his intention of
ruining the honest Titianus?" asked Melissa, horrified.

"Not only of ruining him," answered the chamberlain; "Titianus is by
this time beheaded."

The old man bowed and left the room; but Melissa remained behind,
feeling as if the floor had opened in front of her. He, whose ardent
assurance she had just now believed, that he had been forced to shed the
blood of an impious wretch, in obedience to an overpowering fate, was
capable of allowing the noblest of men to be beheaded, unjudged, merely
to please a mercenary favorite! His confession, then, had been nothing
but a revolting piece of acting! He had endeavored to vanquish the
disgust she felt for him merely to ensnare her and her healing hand more
surely--as his plaything, his physic, his sleeping draught. And she
had entered the trap, and acquitted him of the most horrible
blood-guiltiness.

He had that very day rejected, without pity, a noble Roman lady who
petitioned for her husband's life, and with the same breath he had
afterwards befooled her!

She started up, indignant and deeply wounded. Was it not ignominious
even to wait here like a prisoner in obedience to the command of this
wretch? And she had dared for one moment to compare this monster with
Diodoros, the handsomest, the best, and most amiable of youths!

It seemed to her inconceivable. If only he had not the power to destroy
all that was dearest to her heart, what pleasure it would have been to
shout in his face:

"I detest y