t. Every honor paid to me shall be offered to you likewise. I
have shown the malcontents what they have to expect. The fate which
awaits the consul Claudius Vindex and his nephew, who by their want of
respect to you offended me, will teach the others to have a care."

"O my lord, that aged man!" cried Melissa, clasping her hands,
imploringly.

"He shall die, and his nephew," was the inexorable answer. "During my
conference with my mother's messengers they had the presumption to raise
objections against you and the ardent desire of my heart in a manner
which came very near to being treason. And they must suffer for it."

"You would punish them for my sake?" exclaimed Melissa. "But I forgive
them willingly. Grant them pardon! I beg, I entreat you."

"Impossible! Unless I make an example, it will be long before the
slanderous tongues would hold their peace. Their sentence stands."

But Melissa would not be appeased. With passionate eagerness she
entreated the emperor to grant a pardon, but he cut her short with the
request not to interfere in matters which he alone had to decide and
answer for.

"I owe it to you as well as to myself," he continued, "to remove every
obstacle from the path. Were I to spare Vindex, they would never again
believe in my strength of purpose. He shall die, and his nephew with him!
To raise a structure without first securing a solid foundation would be
an act of rashness and folly. Besides, I undertake nothing without
consulting the omens. The horoscope which the priest of this temple has
drawn up for you only confirms me in my purpose. The examination of the
sacrifices this morning was favorable. It now only remains to be seen
what the stars say to my resolve. I had not yet taken it when I last
questioned the fortune-tellers of the sky. This night we shall learn what
future the planets promise to our union. From the signs on yonder tablet
it is scarcely possible that their answer should be otherwise than
favorable. But even should they warn me of misfortune at your side, I
could not let you go now. It is too late for that. I should merely take
advantage of the warning, and continue with redoubled severity to sweep
away every obstacle that threatens our union. And one thing more--"

But he did not finish, for Epagathos here reminded him of the deputation
of Alexandrian citizens who had come to speak about the games in the
Circus. They had been waiting several hours, and had still many
arran