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"And where," asked Saturius in exasperation, "where is this thrice accursed cur, Caleb?" "Here," answered Demetrius. "I am Caleb, O thrice blessed chamberlain, Saturius." "Indeed," said Saturius. "Well, that makes things more simple. And now, friend Demetrius you prefer that name, do you not what do you propose?"
"You said you came to show me a way to safety yet you tell me that my feet are set in the path of disgrace and death. Must this way of yours, then, be paved with gold?" "No," answered Saturius drily, "with pearls. Oh! I will be plain. Give up that necklace and its wearer. What do you answer?"
As it chanced, it was the chamberlain Saturius who first communicated the Imperial decree to Marcus. Hurrying straight from the palace to the prison he was admitted into the prisoner's chamber. "Well," said Marcus, looking up, "what evil tidings have you now?" "None, none," answered Saturius. "I have very good tidings, and that is why I run so fast.
Pleading this indisposition as an excuse, Domitian left the banquet very early, and attended by his slaves and musicians retired to his own palace. Here his spirits revived somewhat, since he knew that before long his chamberlain, Saturius, would appear with the lovely Jewish maiden upon whom he had set his fancy.
But Domitian, though wounded, making resistance, Clodianus, one of his guards, Maximus, a freedman of Parthenius's, Saturius, his principal chamberlain, with some gladiators, fell upon him, and stabbed him in seven places.
Humbly, most humbly, did that faithful chamberlain, Saturius, lay the results of his mission before his august master, Domitian, who suffering from a severe bilious attack that had turned his ruddy complexion to a dingy yellow, and made the aspect of his pale eyes more unpleasant than usual, was propped up among cushions, sniffing attar of roses and dabbing vinegar water upon his forehead.
"What, alone?" said the prince, springing to his feet. "Nay, lord," said the slave, "there is a woman with him." At this news instantly his ill-temper was forgotten. "Let that girl go," he said, "and bid her be more careful another time. Away, all the lot of you, I wish to be private. Now, slave, bid the worthy Saturius enter with his charge."
"Marcus," said Saturius. "Why, he was reported dead, and the matter of the succession to his great estates is now being debated, for he was the heir of his uncle, Caius, the pro-consul, who amassed a vast fortune in Spain. Also after the death of the said Caius, this Marcus was a favourite of the late divine Nero, who constituted him guardian of some bust of which he was enamoured.
Learning that Saturius had not yet arrived, he went to his private chambers, and to pass away the time commanded his most beautiful slaves to dance before him, where he inflamed himself by drinking more wine of a vintage that he loved. As the fumes of the strong liquor mounted to his brain the pains in his head ceased, at any rate for a while.
Why, the greatest sculptors, ancient or modern, would rejoice to have her as model, and I hope that in the interests of the art-loving public" here he glanced at the Chamberlain, Saturius "that the fortunate person into whose hands she passes will not be so selfish as to deny them this satisfaction.
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