He poisoned his own father; why not
you? They will tell him you have frequently befriended Sextus. They
will show him Sextus' father's name on that list of names that you
commended to his favor. Do you follow me?"

"By Jupiter, not I!" said Pertinax.

"He is sure to learn about this letter that has come." said Galen. "If
you, in fearful loyalty to Commodus, should instantly attempt to make a
prisoner of Sextus; if, escaping, he is killed, and you bear witness--
that would please Commodus almost as much as to see gladiators killed in
the arena. If you wept over the death of Sextus, that would please him
even more. He would enjoy your feelings. Do you remember how he picked
two gladiators who were brothers twins they were--and when the slayer of
his twin-brother saluted, Commodus got down into the arena and kissed
him? You yourself must announce to him the news of Sextus' death, and
he will kiss you also!"

"Vale!" remarked Sextus. "I die willingly enough."

"You are dead already," Galen answered. "Didn't Pertinax see some one's
body kicked into the bushes?"

There was silence. They all glanced at one another. Only Galen,
sipping at his wine, seemed philosophically calm.

"I personally should not be an eye-witness," Galen remarked. "I am a
doctor, whose certificate of death not even Commodus would doubt. In
the dark I might recognize Sextus' garments, even though I could not see
his features. And--" he added pointedly--"neither I nor any one can
tell a beast's blood from a man's."

"Daedalus!" said Pertinax with sudden resolution. "Get my purse. My
slave has it. Sextus shall not go empty-handed."

III. MATERNUS-LATRO

Sorbanus brought the skewbald stallion. Not far away a group of women
danced around a dozen drunken men, who sang uproariously. Seen against
the background of purple and dark-green gloom, with crimson torchlight
flaring on the quiet water and the moon descending behind trees beyond
them, they were mystically beautiful--seemed not to belong to earth, any
more than the pan-pipe music did.

"Ride into their midst!" Norbanus urged, pointing. "Tickle the stallion
thus."

The Cappadocian lashed out savagely.

"Here is a bottle of goat's blood. I will bring weapons, and I will
join you as soon as possible after I have made sure that the temple
priests, and all Daphne, are positive about your death. Now mount and
ride!"

Sextus swung on to the stallion's back as if