Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/218



Something in Clodius' tone struck Mucia unpleasantly as he spoke.

"I did not think so till you spoke those words," Caesar rounded on him, "I am certain by your intonation that you have no plan at all."

For a moment silence followed.

"You ninny!" Caesar began again. "You haven't any plan! Crassus, what sort of man are you to be led off by such a shallow fool? If you two cannot be moved by considerations of prudence or of patriotism, you might be alive to the thought of your own safety. Can't you realize that if the soldiers get out of hand you will be among the first men killed?"

"We knew we were risking our lives when we went into this scheme," Crassus affirmed.

"You risked your lives, of course," said Caesar. "But you never foresaw how or how much. I can see it on your faces. I've one more question to ask before I go. Can you stop this thing yet?"

No answer came to Mucia's ears. Again she heard Caesar's voice.

"You cannot! I can see that on your faces, too. You are a pair of fools indeed. You're a laughing stock for gods and men.

"You congratulate yourselves on your astuteness, you preen yourselves over your policy, you fancy you are paying off old scores, gratifying