Part 19 (1/2)

In his hand he held a sheet of parch and creased from his atte out the sheet to Marcia

She took hi hied at the parchment to make her show him how to fold it She found him another sheet to play with and told him to take it to Pertinax as a soldier and knewat the sheet so tightly that her nails blanched white under the dye

”Pertinax!” she said, shaking the parch in a strained voice, ”this is his final list! He has copied the nauess co with Telamonion and did not look at her

”Severus!” he answered,that cynical hope in him

”Severus isn't mentioned The first six names are in this order: Galen, Marcia, Cornificia, Pertinax, Narcissus, sextus alias Maternus Do you realize what that means? It is now or never! Why has he put Galen first, I wonder?”

Galen did not appear startled His interest was philosophical- iht hiht hi that, of course, but it is e do that counts I should come first! The state would have been better for the death of many a man whom I cured; but I did not cure Commodus, I revealed him to himself, and he fell in love with himself and-”

”Noill you poison him?” said Marcia

”No,” said Galen ”Let him kill me It is better”

”Gods! Has Rome no iron left? You, Pertinax!” said Marcia, ”Go in and kill him!”

Pertinax stood up and stared at her The child Tela at Marcia

”Telao in and play with Narcissus,” said Marcia She pointed at the curtains and the child obeyed

”Go in and kill him, Pertinax!” Marcia shook the list of names, then stood still suddenly, like a woman frozen, ash-white under the carmine on her cheeks

There came a voice frory beast than human speech:

”Marcia! Do you hear me, Marcia? By all Olympus-Marcia!”

She opened the door The inner rooust of chill ind that made all the curtains flutter and there was a co froutters on to ain:

”Is that you, Marcia? You leave your Co lanced at the golden cup on an onyx table On a stand beside it was an unpierced wine jar set in an enored her shoulders, possibly because the wind blew through the opened door She glanced at Galen

”If you have a fever, shouldn't I bring Galen?”

”No!” roared Co me the cup, and you fill it yourself! Make haste before I die of thirst! Then bring me another laht of the with it now Only hile I pierce the aain at Pertinax He frowned over the list of naht up to Galen

”Giveout her hand He drew a little parch nothing Galen was the one who spoke:

”Responsibility is his who orders May the Gods see that it falls where it belongs”