r of a free Roman citizen
who never yet came before the law, torn to pieces in the sand of the
arena? They delight in anything new! Yes, murder me, as you did
Plautilla, although I never offended either you or your mother! Better
die a hundred deaths than parade my dishonor before the eyes of the
multitude in the open Circus!"

She ceased, incapable of further resistance, threw herself weeping on the
divan, and buried her face in the cushions.

Confounded and bewildered by such audacity, the emperor had heard her
out. The soul of a hero dwelt in the frail body of this maiden! Majestic
as all-conquering Venus she had resisted him for the second tune, and now
how touching did she appear in her tears and weakness! He loved her, and
his heart yearned to raise her in his arms, to beg her forgiveness, and
fulfill her every wish. But he was a man and a monarch, and his desire to
show Melissa to the people in the Circus as his chosen bride had become a
fixed resolve during the past sleepless night. And indeed he was
incapable of renouncing any wish or a plan, even if he felt inclined to
do so. Yet he heartily regretted having stormed at the gentle Greek girl
like some wild barbarian, and thus himself thrown obstacles in the way of
attaining his desire. His hot blood had carried him away again. Surely
some demon led him so often into excesses which he afterward repented of.
This time the fiend had been strong in him, and he must use every gentle
persuasion he knew of to bend the deeply offended maiden to his will.

He was relieved not to meet her intense gaze as he advanced toward her
and took Philostratus's place, who whispered to her to control herself
and not bring death and ruin upon them all.

"I Truly I meant well toward you, dearest," he began, in altered tones.
"But we are both like overfull vessels--one drop will make them overflow.
You--confess now that you forgot yourself. And I--On the throne we grow
unaccustomed to opposition. It is fortunate that the flame of my anger
dies out so quickly. But it lies with you to prevent it from ever
breaking out; for I should always endeavor to fulfill a kindly expressed
wish, if it were possible. This time, however, I must insist--"

Melissa turned toward the emperor, and stretching out beseeching hands,
she cried:

"Bid me do anything, however hard, and it shall be done, but do not force
me to go with you to the Circus. If my mother were only alive! Wherever I
could go with