Part 2 (1/2)
”Keep your thoughts under cover,” said Pertinax, glancing at the steward and the slaves ere 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 follohere you lead-except into licentiousness!”
He lay on both elbows and stared at the scene with disgust Naked girls, against a background of the torchlit water and the green and purple gloo to complain of; statuary, since it could notto the eye; but shrieks of idiotic laughter and debauchery of beauty sickened him
There came a series of sounds at the pavilion entrance, where a litter was set down on marble pave of a carpet
”What did I warn you?” Norbanus whispered, laughing in sextus's ear
Pertinax got to his feet, long-leggedly statuesque, and strode toward the antechaht, whence presently he returned with a wo her hand as it rested on his He introduced sextus and Norbanus; the others knew her; Galen greeted her with a wrinkled grin that seemed to imply confidence
”Now that Cornificia has come, not even sextus need worry about our behavior!” said Galen, and everybody except sextus grinned It was notorious that Cornificia refined and restrained Pertinax, whereas his laife Flavia titiana merely drove him to extremes
This Roman Aspasia had an alance of dark brown hair Her violet eyes were quietly intelligent; her dress plain white and not elaborately fringed, with hardly any jewelry She cultivated rown unfashi+onable since the Emperor Marcus Aurelius died In all ways, in fact, she was the opposite of Flavia titiana-it was hard to tell whether from natural preference or because the contrast to his wife's extreer hold on Pertinax Ro scandalous to tell of Cornificia, whereas Flavia titiana's inconstancies were a by-word
She refused to let Galen yield the couch on Pertinax's right hand but took the vacant one at the end of the half- she preferred it-which was likely true enough; it gave her a view of all the faces without turning her head or appearing to stare
For a long time there was merely desultory conversation while the feast, restricted within ht on
There were eels, for which Daphne was famous; alphests and callichthys; pompilos, a purple fish, said to have been born froray mullet; cuttle-fish; tunny-fish and rouse, swan, peacock and a large pig stuffed with larks and mincemeat Then there were sweet invented in Persia, made with honey and dates, with a sauce of frozen cream and strawberries By Galen's order only seven sorts of ere served, so when the uests were neither drunk nor too well fed to carry on a conference
No entertainers were provided Normally the space between the table and the front of the pavilion would have been occupied by acrobats, dancers and jugglers; but Pertinax dismissed even the i and sing snatches of suggestive song He sent slaves to stand outside and keep the croay, his lictor and his personal official bodyguard being kept out of sight in a s the trees, in order not to arouse unwelcome comment It was known he was in Daphne; there was even a subdued expectation in Antioch that his unannounced visit portended the extortion of extra tribute The Emperor Commodus was known to be in his usual straits for uard and lictorprone to outbreak when their passions were aroused by drink and wo silence after Pertinax had dise of the amphora of snow-cooled Falernian; he poured for each in turn and then retired into a corner to be out of earshot, or at any rate to eht hear would not concern him Pertinax strolled to the front of the pavilion and looked out totiy They were dancing in rings under the ht Cornificia at last broke on his reverie:
”You wish to join thenify even our Roed his shoulders, but his eyes were glittering
”If Marcia could govern Commodus as you ruleto sit upright on the couch beside her 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 hiht breeze He threw a purple-bordered cloak over his shoulders It became him; he looked so official in it, and ainst all modern trumpery-forebore to break the silence It was Galen who spoke next:
”Pertinax, if you ht choose an emperor, ould you nominate?
Re legions
None could govern Roarlic”
There was a ers of the ave rein to his i 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! You would restore Rome's honor I believe my father could persuade a hundred noblemen to take your part, if you would lead I can answer for five or sixa friend or tho-”
”Why talk foolishness!” said Pertinax ”The legions will elect Cohest bidder, probably; and though they like overnor of Rome and still alive in spite of it because even Comue Not even Coay life, for my own life's sake All know me as a roisterer I am said to have no ahed
”That htful Roue and-”
”You did that,” said Pertinax