"Do you imagine that Carinus would suffer a man to live whose promised wife had killed herself on the Caesar's account?" "You are right," said the knight, bitterly. "Manlius will learn to dissimulate." He burst into a terrible laugh. Glyceria sank on her knees before him, and offering him her beautiful bosom, stammered, sighing: "And now--take your sword--begin with me." Manlius smiled. "So your dreams have predicted that I shall kill you? You are beautiful, Glyceria; really marvellously beautiful. Is it true, as people say, that Carinus loves you ardently?" "Still more ardently do I hate him. Why do you ask?" "Because I should like to know whether you have ever rendered Carinus happy by your favour?" "Never even with a smile." "And yet he would gladly give years of his life for a single night with you." "Ah, by Styx! If I should grant him a night, it would be an eternal one!" cried Glyceria, drawing herself to her full height while her face crimsoned. Manlius went up to her and clasped her hand. "Now you see, Glyceria, that your dreams deceived you, for I shall not kill you. No, I shall not kill you, but will make you my wife." Glyceria drew back her hand in horror. "Manlius, this is mockery, and bitterer than death." "No, it is only love. I love you." "Manlius, do not kill me thus, not thus. Rather with the sharp sword." "I love you. If I loved your sister, I now see her features in your face; and when grief for her loss tortures me, I must fly to you to find consolation. I do not believe aught of all the world says of you; I will take the past from you and make you what your sister has been. I will lead you back to your father, and he will bestow upon you the blessing he gave your sister. I will endow you with everything that was her property. You will wear her simple garments and even assume her name, and I will call you my Sophronia." Glyceria, trembling violently, escaped from the youth's arms as he drew her toward him with gentle violence, and with glowing cheeks and panting bosom, fled without answering these bewildering words. Manlius, looking after her, muttered under his breath: "Cannot I play the hypocrite too?" CHAPTER IX. As Glyceria had learned through her spies, Manlius was summoned by the lictors to Carinus' presence that very day. But instead of waiting for the command, he went to the palace before he received it.