Theodora, like an angry snake, started up on her couch with such impetuosity, that Petros and Galatea retreated in affright. "No, no, Petros! no!" she exclaimed. "For this reason I send you. She must _not_ come to Byzantium! She must not live!" Confounded, Petros let the letter fall. "Oh, Empress!" he whispered; "murder?" "Peace!" cried Theodora, in a hoarse voice; and her eyes sparkled cruelly. "She must die!" "Die? Oh, Empress! wherefore?" "There is no need for you to know that. But stay; I will tell you, for it will give the spur to your courage. Listen." She seized his arm wildly, and whispered in his ear, "Justinian, the traitor, has conceived a passion for her!" "Theodora!" cried Petros, startled. The Empress fell back upon her couch. "But he has never seen her," stammered Petros. "He has seen her portrait. He already dreams of her. He has fallen in love with her picture." "You have never yet had a rival." "No; nor ever will." "You are so beautiful." "Amalaswintha is younger." "You are so wise; you are Justinian's counsellor the confidant of his most secret thoughts." "It is just this which annoys him. And"--she again caught his arm--"remember, she is a King's daughter, a born ruler; and I--am the plebeian daughter of a lion-keeper! Ridiculous and insane though it be, Justinian, in his purple, forgets that he is the son of a shepherd from the Dardanelles. He has imbibed the madness of Kings; he, himself an adventurer, chatters about innate majesty, about the mystery of royal blood! I have no protection against such whims. I fear nothing from all the women in the world. But this King's daughter----" She angrily started up, and clenched her small fist. "Beware, Justinian!" she cried, pacing the room. "With this eye and hand I have subdued lions and tigers; let us see if I cannot keep this fox in royal purple at my feet." She re-seated herself. "In short, Amalaswintha dies," she said, suddenly becoming quite cool again. "Yes," said Petros, "but not through me. You have bloodthirsty servants enough; send them. I am a man who will talk----" "You are a man who will die if you do not obey! You, my supposed enemy, must do it. None of my friends can venture it without arousing suspicion." "Theodora," said Petros, forgetting himself, "take care! To murder the daughter of Theodoric, a born Queen----" "Ha, ha!" said Theodora, in a rage, "you, too, miserable man, are dazzled by the 'born Queen!' All men are fools, still more than rascals! Listen, Petros--the day when the news of her death arrives from Ravenna, you shall be a senator and a patrician." The man's eyes sparkled, but cowardice or conscience were still stronger than ambition. "No," he said decidedly, "I would rather lose the court and all my plans." "You will lose your life, wretch!" cried Theodora. "Oh, you think you are safe, because I burnt the forged documents before your eyes! You fool! they were false! Look here; here I hold your life in my hands!"