a Roman," Pertinax retorted angrily. "I think of Rome before
myself. You women only think of passion and ambition. Rome--city of a
thousand triumphs!" He turned away, pacing the floor again, knitting
his fingers behind him. "Pertinax would offer up himself if he might
bring back the Augustan days--if he might win the warfare that Tiberius
lost. One Pertinax is nothing in the life of Rome. One life, three-
quarters spent, is but a poor pledge to the gods--yet too much to be
thrown away in vain. The auguries are all mixed nowadays. I doubt
them. I mistrust the shaven priests who dole out answers in return for
minted money. I have knelt before the holy shrine of Vesta, but the
Virgins were as vague as the Egyptian who prophesied--"

He hesitated.

"What?" demanded Marcia.

"That I should serve Rome and receive ingratitude. What else does any
man receive who serves Rome? They who cheat her are the ones who
prosper!"

"Send for Cornificia," said Marcia. "She keeps your resolution. Let her
come and loose it!" Pertinax turned sharply on her.

"Flavia Titiana shall not suffer that indignity. Cornificia can not
enter this house."

But the mention of Cornificia's name wrought just as swift a change in
him as had the name of Lucius Severus. He began to bite his finger-
nails, then clenched his hands again behind him, Galen and Marcia
watching.

"You are the only one who can replace Commodus without drenching Rome in
blood," said Marcia, remembering a phrase of Cornificia's. And since
the words were Cornificia's, and stirred the chords of many memories,
they produced a sort of half-way resolution.

"It is now or never," Marcia said, goading him. But Pertinax shook his
head.

"I am not convinced, though I would do my best to save Rome from
Severus. Dioscuri!--do you realize, this plot to make me emperor is
known to not more than a dozen--"

"Therein safety lies," said Marcia. "Yourself included there can only
be a dozen traitors!"

"Rome is too much ruled by women! I will not kill Commodus, and I will
give him this one chance," said Pertinax. "I will protect him, unless
and until I shall discover proof that he intends to turn on you, or me,
or any of my friends."

"You may discover that too late!" said Marcia; but she seemed to
understand him and looked satisfied. "Come tonight to the palace--
Galen," she added, "come you also--and bring poison!"

Galen met her gaze and shut his lips tight.