eport on military,
geographical and economic facts--"

"He would refuse to go!" said Galen. "And if made to go, he would
return! O Pertinax--!"

"Be quiet!" Pertinax retorted irritably. "I will not submit to being
lectured. I am Governor of Rome--though you are Galen the philosopher.
And I remember many of your adages this minute, as for instance: 'It is
he who acts who is responsible.' To kill an emperor is easy, Galen. To
replace him is as difficult as to fit a new head to a body. We have
talked a lot of treason, most of it nonsense. I have listened to too
much of it. I am as guilty as the others. But when it comes to slaying
Commodus and standing in his shoes--"

Marcia interrupted.

"By the great Twin Brethren, Pertinax! Who can be surprised that Flavia
Titiana seeks amusement in the arms of other men! Does Cornificia
endure such peasant talk? Or do you keep it to impose on us as a relief
from her more noble conversation? Dea Dia! Had I known how spineless
you can be I would have set my cap at Lucius Severus long ago. It may
be it is not too late."

She had him! She had pricked him in the one place where he could be
stirred to spitefulness. His whole face crimsoned suddenly.

"That Carthaginian!" He came and stood in front of her. "If you had
favored him you should have foregone my friendship, Marcia! Commodus is
bad enough. Severus would be ten times worse! Where Commodus is merely
crazy, Lucius Severus is a calculating, ice-cold monster of cruelty! He
has no emotions except those aroused by venom! He would tear out your
heart just as swiftly as mine! As for plotting with him, he would let
you do it all and then denounce you to the senate after he was on the
throne!"

"Either it must be Severus, or else you!" said Marcia. "Which is it to
be?"

Pertinax folded his arms.

"I would feel it my duty to preserve Rome from Severus. But you go too
fast. Our Commodus is on the throne--"

"And writes proscription lists!" said Marcia. "Who knows what names are
on the lists already? Who knows what Bultius Livius may have told him?
Who knows which of us will be alive tomorrow morning? Who knows what
Sextus is doing? If Sextus has heard of this crisis he will seize the
moment and either arouse the praetorian guard to mutiny or else reach
Commodus himself and slay him with his own hand! Sextus is a man! Are
you no more than Flavia Titiana's cuckold and Cornificia's plaything?"

"I am