‘Britannicus is such a strong, healthy boy, that the task is less easy. But Cæsar shall have his wish. I have a poison here which will do the work.’ ‘Try it, then, on some animal,’ he said. ‘I dare say the tribune could procure me a kid,’ said Locusta. A slave was despatched to find a kid, and when the bounding, playful creature was brought Locusta dropped some of the poison on a piece of bread dipped in milk. The kid ate the bread and milk, and frisked no more but lay down and curled up its limbs, which quivered with convulsive twitchings. ‘Leave the poison to work,’ she said, ‘and if Cæsar will summon me an hour hence the kid will be dead.’ An hour later she was summoned. The kid lay on the ground, feeble and with glazing eyes; but it was not dead, and Nero was in the worst of humours. He pointed to the little creature and said-- ‘Woman, you are trifling with me! Add henbane, or hemlock, or any other infernal thing you like, to your accursed poison. It must be made stronger.’ Locusta dropped other ingredients into the phial, and another animal was sent for. The slave brought a little pig. Some of the poison was sprinkled on a leaf of lettuce. The creature ate it, and in a few moments died in spasms. ‘That will do,’ said Nero, flinging to the woman a purse of gold. ‘If all goes as I desire, you shall have ample recompense. But breathe one syllable about this matter, and you shall die under the scourge.’ She went, leaving the phial in his hands. He struck a silver bell, and ordered Tigellinus to be summoned. ‘I have decided,’ he said to the Prætorian. ‘Britannicus shall die.’ ‘You will deserve the title of “father of your country,” which you so modestly rejected,’ said Tigellinus. ‘Augustus received that title on the Nones of February, more than eighty years ago; doubtless the Senate will confer it upon you soon after the Ides.’ ‘But how is the deed to be done?’ asked Nero gloomily. ‘I shrink from the business even if it be necessary.’ ‘What are you afraid of, Cæsar?’ ‘The voice of the people. It can shake the throne of the greatest.’ ‘How will the people know anything about it?’ ‘Britannicus has a _prægustator_, just as I and Agrippina have. If that wretch is poisoned too, every one will know what has taken place.’ ‘His _prægustator_ is--?’ ‘A freedman named Syneros.’ ‘In your pay, of course?’ Nero nodded. ‘And you can trust him?’ Nero nodded again. ‘Then leave the rest to me,’ said Tigellinus, ‘and do not trouble yourself any further in the matter. If I have your orders, regard the deed as done.’ ‘I give no orders,’ said Nero; ‘but here is Locusta’s poison.’ * * * * *