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partially ajar, though there was no slave there to receive him.

The house seemed unusually quiet and lifeless. The night light, which ordinarily a slave kept burning in the forecourt when a member of the household was away, was absent. For an instant Praeclarus hesitated upon the threshold and then, throwing his cloak back from his shoulders to free his arms, he pushed the door open and stepped within.

In the banquet hall of a high court functionary the guests yawned behind their hands from boredom, but none dared leave while Caesar remained, for the Emperor was a guest there that evening. It was late when an officer brought a message to Sublatus—a message that the Emperor read with a satisfaction he made no effort to conceal.

“I have received an important message,” said Sublatus to his host, “upon a matter that interests the noble Senator Dion Splendidus and his wife. It is my wish that you withdraw with the other guests, leaving us three here alone.”

When they had gone he turned to Dion Splendidus. “It has long been rumored, Splendidus,” he remarked, “that you aspire to the purple.”

“A false rumor, Sublatus, as you should well know,” replied the senator.

“I have reason to believe otherwise,” said Sublatus, shortly. “There cannot be two Caesars, Splendidus, and you well know the penalty for treason.”

“If the Emperor has determined, for personal reasons or for any reason whatever, to destroy me, argument will avail me nothing,” said Splendidus, haughtily.

“But I have other plans,” said Sublatus, “—plans that might be overturned should I cause your death.”

“Yes?” inquired Splendidus, politely.

“Yes,” assented Sublatus. “My son wishes to marry your daughter, Dilecta, and it is also my wish, for thus would the two most powerful families of Castra Sanguinarius be united and the future of the empire assured.”

“But our daughter, Dilecta, is betrothed to another,” said Splendidus.

“To Maximus Praeclarus?” inquired Sublatus.