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Certainly he would find among them even people who would hide away Glaucus for money; but their religion, as far as he knew, did not incite to crime, on the contrary, it enjoined forgiveness of offences. Vinicius remembered what Pomponia had said to him at Acte's, and in general he listened to Chilo's words with pleasure.
They found themselves now in the small atrium of Acte's apartments. Ursus placed Lygia on a marble bench at a distance from the fountain. Acte strove to pacify her; she urged her to sleep, and declared that for the moment there was no danger, after the feast the drunken guests would sleep till evening.
Acte spoke with great compassion, and even with enthusiasm; and being a little short-sighted, she pushed her sweet face up to Lygia's as if wishing to see surely the effect of her words. But Lygia threw her arms around Acte's neck with childish trustfulness and said, "Thou art kind, Acte."
In this way they went from the triclinium to the adjoining chamber, and thence to the gallery leading to Acte's apartments. To such a degree had her strength deserted Lygia, that she hung as if dead on the arm of Ursus. But when the cool, pure breeze of morning beat around her, she opened her eyes. It was growing clearer and clearer in the open air.
She threw herself on Acte's neck suddenly, and, putting her beautiful lips to Acte's cheek, she whispered: "Thou wilt not betray, Acte, wilt thou?" "By the shade of my mother," answered the freedwoman, "I will not; but pray to thy God that Ursus be able to bear thee away." The blue, childlike eyes of the giant were gleaming with happiness.
Laying aside the reed then, he began to walk with quick step; for besides delight, which was overflowing his soul, he was tormented with fever. He said to himself that to-morrow Lygia would be in that house. He did not know how to act with her, but felt that if she would love him he would be her servant. He recalled Acte's assurance that he had been loved, and that moved him to the uttermost.
By Proteus and his barren spaces in the sea! I shall change my opinion as often as I find it appropriate or profitable. As to Lygia, her royal descent is more certain than Acte's. But in Antium be on thy guard against Poppæa, who is revengeful." "I do not think of doing so. A hair will not fall from my head in Antium."
Lygia did not refuse; and both went to the cubiculum, which was spacious and furnished with luxury because of Acte's former relations with Cæsar. There they lay down side by side, but in spite of her weariness Acte could not sleep. For a long time she had been sad and unhappy, but now she was seized by a certain uneasiness which she had never felt before.
Her pose was hieratic as a sphinx when she watched the antics of the neurasthenic Herod. And her dance was one of the best I have yet seen, though Aino Acté's is said to rank them all. Wittich, Krull, Destinn, Rose, Walther, Acté, not one of them ever sang as sang Olive Fremstad at that memorable dress rehearsal of a certain Sunday morning in the Metropolitan Opera-House.
To the ears of Lygia and Acte came only the wail of the infant, which began to cry, it was unknown for what reason. Lygia's eyes too were filled with tears; but after a while she took Acte's hand and said, "Let us return. Help is to be looked for only whence it can come." And they returned to the atrium, which they did not leave till evening.
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