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Updated: June 18, 2025
"We cannot decide this matter otherwise than by vote," said one of the guests when the murmurs of approval and those of dissent had equally died down. "Thou art right, O friend," assented Ancyrus, "and I pray thee, Caius Nepos, order thy slaves to bring us the tablets, and let each man record his vote according to his will."
An you value your own safety in the future, 'twere wiser to make preparations for a lengthy stay away from Rome." "Hadst thou listened to us yesterday ..." sighed Ancyrus, the elder. "A heavy crime had lain against us all," she said. "Be thankful, my lords, that in the history of Rome when it comes to be written, your deed will not have sullied the page that marks to-day.
A word from him to the crowd and the new Cæsar is assured of peace within the city." "Then do thou tell him what has been decided," said one of the others who was busy smoothing his tangled hair. "No, no!" whispered cautious Ancyrus, the elder, "have a care ... thou, Caius Nepos, must probe him ere thou speakest." "Tell him naught of Escanes' dagger," added another hurriedly.
All that he wanted at this moment was to be rid of those who had opposed him last night for the sake of their own schemes. Therefore in measured words he only spoke of the whisperings which he had overheard in the vestibule of his own house, between a certain band headed by Hortensius Martius and Marcus Ancyrus, the elder.
There were now some forty of them in number, rich patricians all of them, their ages ranging from that of young Escanes who was just twenty years old to that of Marcus Ancyrus, the elder, who had turned sixty. Their combined wealth mayhap would have purchased every inhabited house in the entire civilised world or every slave who was ever put up in the market.
Vaguely the older men wondered on whom the Augusta's choice had fallen, whilst my lord Hortensius Martius felt the hot blood rush to his cheeks at the hopes that had once more risen in his heart. But now Ancyrus, the elder, began to speak and his voice was mellow and gentle. "The people have spoken plainly, O Augusta," he said; "wilt set thy will against the might of the people of Rome?
Ancyrus, the elder, was silent and only the three younger men had followed Hortensius Martius in his heated argument. "What sayest thou, Augusta?" asked Philippus Decius at last, looking doubtfully upon the young girl. "That ye must make your plans without me, my lords," she said coldly. "Since, as you say, the praefect of Rome is dead, I can make no choice worthy of him who is gone.
"Time walks closely on the heels of destiny, O Augusta!" urged Marcus Ancyrus, the elder, in his gently insinuating voice; "for the nonce Jove has damped the wrath of the people of Rome, but that wrath is only dormant, it will break out afresh. The storm in the heavens will pass by, but the tempest caused by a raging mob will reawaken with double fury. In thy hands, Augusta, in thy hands!..."
I had made my choice and myself offered him the imperium, the throne of Augustus and the sceptre of the Cæsars.... But he refused it all, my lords, and went forth in the night to place himself body and heart at the Cæsar's service." "And his name, O Augusta?" queried Ancyrus, the elder. "He hath name Taurus Antinor and was once praefect of Rome." "He is dead!" broke in Hortensius Martius hotly.
"Dost think it likely that the Augusta favours him?" asked the host ironically. "No but " "Then what hast thou to fear?" "As for me," interposed young Escanes in a thick voice broken by hiccoughs, "I am ready to swear as Marcus Ancyrus directs. If we are not satisfied with the new Cæsar, whoever he may be, my dagger will not rust in the meanwhile; I can easily whet it again."
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