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Updated: June 21, 2025
Sextus and Norbanus stood together, Scylax behind them, Norbanus whispering; plainly enough Norbanus was urging patience discretion deliberate thought, whereas Sextus could hardly think at all for anger that reddened his eyes. "What can I do for you? What can I do?" wondered Pertinax. Then Cornificia was on her feet. "There is nothing nothing you can do!" she insisted.
By pretending to report to Commodus the private doings of Pertinax and a number of other important people, Cornificia had undermined Commodus' faith in his secret informers who might else have been dangerous. "Your Cornificia," Marcia began then changed her mind. Disillusionment would do no good. She must play on the man's illusion that he was the master of his own will.
"I perceive Pertinax has betrayed me," he sneered, looking sharply at Cornificia; but she was watching Marcia and did not seem conscious of his glance. "If Pertinax has broken his oath, mine no longer binds me. This is the fact then: I discovered how he helped Sextus, son of Maximus, to avoid execution by a ruse, making believe to be killed.
Pertinax turned his back again and strode toward the window, where he stood like a statue framed in the luminous gloom. The only part of him that moved was his long fingers, weaving together behind him until the knuckles cracked. Cornificia, subduing her contralto voice, read the letter aloud: "To Nimius Secundus Sextus, son of Galienus Maximus, the freedman Rufus Glabrio sends humble greeting.
She was trembling in a struggle for self-mastery. Pertinax chewed at his finger-nails, which were the everlasting subject of his proud wife's indignation; he never kept his fine hands properly; the peasant in him thought such refinements effeminate, unsoldierly. Cornificia, who could have made him submit even to a manicure, understood him too well to insist.
"Whom would she nominate? That is the point." "It would be simpler to kill Marcia," said Daedalus. "Thereafter let things take their course. Without Marcia to protect him " "No man knows much," Galen interrupted. "Marcia's soul may be all the soul Commodus has! If she should grow sick of him !" "She grew sick long ago," said Cornificia.
None could govern Rome whose nose goes up in the air at the smell of sweat and garlic." There was a murmur of approval. Cornificia stroked the long, strong fingers of the man she idolized. Sextus gave rein to his impulse then, brushing aside Norbanus' hand that warned him to bide his time: "Many more than I," he said, "are ready to throw in our lot with you, Pertinax aye, unto death!
It would be a choice jest he being the one who has encouraged Christianity by reversing all Marcus Aurelius' wise precautions against their seditious blasphemy!" "You speak fanatically, but you have touched the heart of the problem," said Cornificia. "It is Marcia who makes life possible for Commodus Marcia and her Christians.
"Very well," she went on, "Yours be the decision! No woman can decide such issues. We are all in your hands Cornificia and Galen all of us aye, and Rome, too and even Sextus and his friends. But you will never have another such opportunity. It is tonight or never, Pertinax!" He winced. He was about to speak, but something interrupted him.
It was evident that he intended that speech to release all tongues; he looked from face to face expectantly, but no one spoke until Cornificia urged him to protect himself against the night breeze. He threw a purple-bordered cloak over his shoulders.
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