ll this
cleverly interwoven with sighs of hope as to what a happier future might
bring if the Empire were rid--quite peaceably, of course--of the tyranny
of a semi-brutish despot.

Then, as Taurus Antinor made no comment on his peroration, he recalled
in impassioned language all that Rome had witnessed in the past three
years of depravity, of turpitude, of senseless and maniacal orgies and
of bestial cruelty, all perpetrated by the one man to whom blind Fate
had given supreme power.

"And to whom, alas!" said Taurus Antinor in calm response to the glowing
speech, "we have all of us here sworn loyalty and obedience."

There was silence after this. Despite the lingering fumes of wine that
obscured the brain, everyone felt that with these few words the praefect
of Rome had already given an answer, and that nothing that could be said
after this would have the power of making him alter his decision. But
Marcus Ancyrus, conscious of his own powers of diplomacy, took up the
thread of his host's peroration.

"Aye! but we should be obeying him," he said simply, "if we accept his
abdication."

"There is no disloyalty," asserted Escanes, "in rejoicing at such an
issue, if the Caesar himself doth will it so."

"None," admitted the praefect; "but there would be grave difficulty in
choosing a successor."

"To this," said the host, "we have given grave consideration."

"Indeed!"

"And have come to a decision which we all think would best serve the
welfare of the State."

"May I hear this decision?"

"It means just this, O praefect! that since the sceptre of Caesar must,
if possible, remain in the House of Caesar, and since no man of that
House is worthy to wield it, we would ask the Augusta Dea Flavia to take
to herself a lord and husband, on whom, by virtue of his marriage, the
imperium would rest for his life, and after his death fall on the direct
descendant of great Augustus himself."

Taurus Antinor had not made a sign whilst Caius Nepos thus briefly put
before him the main outline of the daring project, and Hortensius
Martius, who was watching him closely, could not detect the slightest
change in the earnest face even when Dea Flavia's name was spoken. Now,
when Nepos paused as if waiting for comment, Antinor said gravely:

"Ye must pardon me, but I am a stranger to the social life in Rome. Will
you tell me who this man is whom the Augusta will so highly favour?"

"Nay, as to that," said Caius Nepos, "we none o