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Updated: June 29, 2025
Regarding him as her slave, Galla amused herself by sometimes coming to his house, where, as if in the pride of chastity, she received his devotion, and meanwhile told him things he was glad to know. And thus it happened on that day of the quarrel between Heliodora and Muscula, wherein Galla unexpectedly found herself involved.
Certain gossips pretended that there was no plot at all, but that Bessas, weary of his mistress, had chosen this way of getting rid of her. Be that as it might, Muscula was dead. For most of his knowledge of private things that happened on the Palatine and little that went on in the household of Bessas escaped him Marcian depended upon his servant Sagaris.
Ah! and so it would be with her, were she weak enough to yield to her passion. Sagaris began to protest, to vow. 'It is vain, replied the amorous voice. 'Only in one way can you convince me and win me. 'Oh, how? 'Let me hear that Muscula is dead. Sagaris stood mute. A hand touched his shoulder, his hair; perfumes loaded the air about him. 'Tell me your name and it shall be done.
'Hold your saucy tongue, child, said Heliodora with a pouting smile. 'But it is true that Muscula has won advancement. One doesn't need to have a very long memory to recall her arrival in Rome. There are who say that she came as suckling nurse in a lady's train, with the promise of marriage to a freedman when her mistress's baby was weaned.
The reproach of the mysterious fair one made him swell with pride; he affected inability to deny the charge, and in the next breath declared that Muscula was but his sport, that in truth he cared nothing for her, he did but love her as he had loved women numberless, not only in Rome, but in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople. The muffled lady gave a deep sigh.
I came to you, O Heliodora, as to one before whom men bow, one whose beauty is resistless, whose wish is a command. What gave me courage was a word that fell from Bessas himself when I sat at table with him yesterday. "Wore I the purple," he said, "Heliodora should be my Empress." 'Bessas said that? 'He did and in the presence of Muscula, who heard it, I am bound to say, with a sour visage.
Had he watched Heliodora at this moment, he would have understood the sudden start with which Muscula sprang nearer to him as if for protection. 'I alone, she continued, in a voice not so subdued but that Heliodora could hear every word. 'I alone can discover for you what you wish to know.
That is malice, of course; poor Muscula has had many enemies. For my part, I have never doubted that she was suckling her own child, nor that its father was a man of honourable name, and not a slave of the Circus stables as some said. Again Vivian rolled on the cushions in mirth, until he caught Basil's eye as it glanced at him with infinite scorn.
'It is through some one whom Muscula holds of more account than Bessas, and with whom she schemes against him. 'By the Holy' Mother! exclaimed Heliodora, 'that is yourself. Marcian shook his head. 'Not so, gracious lady. 'Nay, why should you scruple to confess it? You love Veranilda, and do you think I could not pardon an intrigue which lay on your way to her?
Already Muscula had so far wrought upon Bessas that success seemed within view, and Basil's departure from Rome was only a pretence; he waited near at hand, ready to carry off his beloved. 'How come you to know all this? Heliodora asked bluntly at the first pause. 'That also I will tell you, answered Marcian.
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