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Pertinax is sent as lieutenant into Britaine, he is in danger to be slaine of the souldiers, he riddeth himselfe of that perilous office: Albinus with an armie of Britains fighteth against Seuerus and his power neere to Lions, Seuerus is slaine in a conflict against the Picts, Geta and Bassianus two brethren make mutuall warre for the regiment of the land, the one is slaine, the other ruleth.
"Keep your thoughts under cover," said Pertinax, glancing at the steward and the slaves who were beginning to carry in the meal. But he was evidently pleased, and Sextus's next words pleased him more: "I am ready to do more than think about you, I will follow where you lead except into licentiousness!" He lay on both elbows and stared at the scene with disgust.
Something colorless that can be mixed with wine? Know you a safe poison, Galen?" "Aye irresolution!" Galen answered. "I will not be made a victim of it. Who shall aspire to the throne if Commodus dies?" "Pertinax!" Pertinax looked startled, stroking his beard, uncrossing his knees. "Then let Pertinax do his own work," said Galen. "Rome is full of poisoners, but hasn't Pertinax a sword?" "Aye.
Pertinax would do no wholesale murdering to wipe out opposition; he would try to pacify opponents by the institution of reforms and decent government." "You must beware you are not forestalled," Narcissus warned her. "Sextus tells me there is more than one man ready to slay Commodus at the first chance.
"I have no time." "Not even to hear a secret?" "I hear a hundred every day." "But this concerns the life of his majesty," said Poulain, in a low voice. "Oh! oh! then come into my cabinet." M. D'Epernon, in traversing the antechamber, addressed himself to one of the gentlemen who stood there. "What is your name, monsieur?" said he. "Pertinax de Montcrabeau, monsieur."
But the best way with Pertinax is to stroke the honest side of him the charcoal-burner side of him the peasant side, if that can be done without making him too diffident. He is perfectly capable of offering the throne to some one else at the last minute!" A step sounded on the other side of the curtain. "Caesar!" Narcissus whispered.
Pertinax strolled to the front of the pavilion and looked out to make sure there were no eavesdroppers, staring for a long time at the revelry that was warming up into an orgy. They were dancing in rings under the moon, their shadowy figures rendered weird by smoky torchlight. Cornificia at last broke on his reverie: "You wish to join them, Pertinax?
"Nobody knows how long her hold over Caesar will last. She owns him at present owns him absolutely owns Rome. He delights in letting her revoke his orders; it's a form of self-debauchery; he does things purposely to have her overrule him. But that has already lasted longer than I thought it would." "It will last as long as she and her Christians spy for him and make life pleasant," said Pertinax.
But he has recalled into favor most of the professional informers who flourished under Commodus and they are on the watch for victims to win them praise and rewards. Several of the exiles recalled by Pertinax have been rearrested and re-banished or even executed since Julianus came into power. Keep close and beware!"
There was a long pause while a group of men and women came and chattered near by, laughing while one of the men tried to win a wager by climbing a marble pillar. Pertinax frowned. Livius did his best to look dependable and friendly, but his eyes were not those of a boon companion. "You are incapable of loyalty to any one except yourself," said Pertinax at last.
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