d, attempted to regain his normal air of tolerant importance--
glanced about him--saw the sunlight making iridescent pools of fire
within a crystal ball set on the fountain's edge--took up the ball and
brought it to her, holding it in both hands.

"What choice is there than that which Paris made?" he asked, kneeling on
one knee, laughing. "Venus rules men's hearts. She must prevail. So
into your most lovely hands I give my destiny."

"You mean, you leave it there!" said Marcia. "Could you ever afford to
ignore me and intrigue behind my back?"

"I am the least intriguing person of your acquaintance, Marcia," he
answered, rising because the hard mosaic pavement hurt his knee, and the
position made him feel undignified. But more than dignity he loved
discretion; he wished there were eyes in the back of his head, to see
whether slaves were watching from the curtained windows opening on the
inner court. "It is my policy," he went on, "to know much and say
little; to observe much, and do nothing! I am much too lazy for
intrigue, which is hard work, judging by what I have seen of those who
indulge in it."

"Is that why you sacrificed a white bull recently?" asked Marcia.

Livius glanced at Cornificia, but her patrician face gave no hint. Caia
Poppeia's was less under control, for she was younger and had nothing to
conceal; she was inquisitively enjoying the entertainment and evidently
did not know what was coming.

"I sacrificed a white bull to Jupiter Capitolinus, as is customary, to
confirm a sacred oath," he answered.

"Very well, suppose you break the oath!" said Marcia.

He managed to look scandalized--then chuckled foolishly, remembering
what Pertinax had said about the value of an oath; but his own dignity
obliged him to protest.

"I am not one of your Christians," he answered, stiffening himself. "I
am old-fashioned enough to hold that an oath made at the altar of our
Roman Jupiter is sacred and inviolable."

"When you took your oath of office you swore to be in all things true to
Caesar," Marcia retorted. "Do you prefer to tell Caesar how true you
have been to that oath? Which oath holds the first one or the second?"

"I could ask to be released from the second one," said Livius. "If you
will give me time--"

Marcia's laugh interrupted him. It was soft, melodious, like wavelets
on a calm sea, hinting unseen reefs.

"Time," she said, "Is all that death needs! Death does not wait on
oaths