Page:Henryk Sienkiewicz - Quo Vadis (1897 Curtin translation).djvu/62

46 degree that just now the centurion was here with information that he had conducted the maiden to the palace and committed her to Acte. She is a good soul, that Acte; hence I gave command to deliver Lygia to her. Clearly Pomponia Græcina is of that opinion too, for she wrote to Acte. Tomorrow there is a feast at Nero's. I have requested a place for thee at the side of Lygia"

"Pardon me, Caius, my hastiness. I judged that thou hadst given command to take her away for thyself or for Cæsar."

"I can forgive thy hastiness; but it is more difficult for me to forgive rude gestures, vulgar shouts, and a voice reminding one of players at mora. I do not like that style, Marcus, and do thou guard against it. Know that Tigellinus is Cæsar's pander; but know also that if I wanted the girl for myself now, looking thee straight in the eyes, I would say, 'Vinicius! I take Lygia from thee, and I will keep her till I am tired of her.'"

Thus speaking, he began to look with his nut-like eyes straight into the eyes of Vinicius with a cold and insolent expression. The young man lost himself completely.

"The fault is mine," said he. "Thou art kind and worthy. I thank thee from my whole soul. Permit me only to put one more question: Why didst thou not have Lygia sent directly to my house?"

"Because Cæsar wishes to preserve appearances. People in Rome will talk about this,—that we removed Lygia as a hostage. While they are talking, she will remain in Caesar's palace. Afterward she will be removed quietly to thy house, and that will be the end. Bronzebeard is a cowardly whelp. He knows that his power is unlimited, and still he tries to give appearances to every act. Hast thou recovered to the degree of being able to philosophize a little? More than once have I thought, Why does a criminal, even as powerful as Cæsar, and assured of being beyond punishment, strive always for the appearances of truth, justice, and virtue? Why does he take the trouble? I consider that to murder a brother, a mother, a wife, is a thing worthy of some petty Asiatic king, not a Roman Cæsar; but if that happened to me, I should not write justifying letters to the Senate. But Nero writes. Nero is looking for appearances, for Nero is a coward. But Tiberius was not a coward; still he justified every step he took. Why is this? What a marvellous, involuntary homage laid down to virtue by evil! And