tinax--and shrugged her shoulders, possibly because the wind blew
through the opened door. She glanced at Galen.

"If you have a fever, shouldn't I bring Galen?"

"No!" roared Commodus. "The man might poison me! Bring me the cup, and
you fill it yourself! Make haste before I die of thirst! Then bring me
another lamp and dose the shutters! No slaves--I can't bear the sight
of them!"

"Instantly, Commodus. I am coming with it now. Only wait while I
pierce the amphora."

She closed the door and looked swiftly once again at Pertinax. He
frowned over the list of names and did not look at her. She walked
straight up to Galen.

"Give me!" she demanded, holding out her hand. He drew a little
parchment package from his bosom and she clutched it, saying nothing.
Galen was the one who spoke:

"Responsibility is his who orders. May the gods see that it falls where
it belongs."

She took no notice of his speech but stood for a moment untying the
strings of the package, frowning to herself, then bit the string through
and, clutching the little package in her fist, took a gilded tool from
beside the snow-bowl and pierced the seal of the amphora. Then she put
the poison in the bottom of the golden cup and poured the wine--with
difficulty, since the jar was heavy, but Pertinax, who watched intently,
made no movement to assist. She stirred the wine with one of her long
hair-pins.

"Marcia!" roared Commodus.

"I am coming now."

She went into the bedroom, leaving the door not quite closed behind her.
Pertinax began to stare at Galen critically. Galen blinked at him.
Commodus' voice came very distinctly from the inner room:

"Taste first, Marcia! Olympus! I can't see you in the dark. Come
close. Are your lips wet? Let me feel them!"

"I drank a whole mouthful, Commodus. How hot your hand is! Feel--feel
the cup--you can feel with your finger how much I have tasted. I broke
the seal of a fresh jar of Falernian."

"Some of your Christians might have tampered with it!"

"No, no, Commodus. That jar has been in the cellar since before you
were born and the seal was intact. I washed the cup myself."

"Well, taste again. Sit here on the bed where I can feel your heart-
beats."

Presently he gave a gasp and belched, as always after he had swallowed a
whole cupful at one draught.

"Now close the shutters and bolt them on the inside; there might be
some of your Christians lurking on the balcony."

"In