The body remained where it had fallen until late at night. Then some attendants of the palace came and conveyed it away. They were sent, it was said, by Cæsonia, the wife of the murdered man. Cæsonia had an infant daughter at this time, and she remained herself with the child, in a retired apartment of the palace while these things were transpiring. Distracted with grief and terror at the tidings that she heard, she clung to her babe, and made the arrangements for the interment of the body of her husband without leaving its cradle. She imagined perhaps that there was no reason for supposing that she or the child were in any immediate danger, and accordingly she took no measures toward effecting an escape. If so, she did not understand the terrible frenzy to which the conspirators had been aroused, and for which the long series of cruelties and indignities which they had endured from her husband had prepared them. For at midnight one of them broke into her apartment, stabbed the mother in her chair, and taking the innocent infant from its cradle, killed it by beating its head against the wall. [Illustration: CÆSONIA.] Atrocious as this deed may seem, it was not altogether wanton and malignant cruelty which prompted it. The conspirators intended by the assassination of Caligula not merely to wreak their vengeance on a single man, but to bring to an end a hated race of tyrants; and they justified the murder of the wife and child by the plea that stern political necessity required them to exterminate the line, in order that no successor might subsequently arise to re-establish the power and renew the tyranny which they had brought to an end. The history of monarchies is continually presenting us with instances of innocent and helpless children sacrificed to such a supposed necessity as this. CHAPTER III. THE ACCESSION OF CLAUDIUS. A.D. 41-47 Ultimate design of the conspirators.--Effect produced by the tidings of Caligula's death.--Chærea and the conspirators secrete themselves.--The senate is convened.--Two parties formed.--Account of Claudius.--His apparent imbecility.--Every one against him.--Mode of teasing him.--His situation and position at court.--The wives of Claudius.--His son strangled by a pear.--Claudius terrified.--His hiding place.--He is discovered by a soldier.--Claudius proclaimed emperor.--His surprise.--He is borne to the camp and proclaimed emperor.--Agrippina recalled.--Messalina.--Messalina's intrigues.--Her hatred of Silanus.--Plan for destroying Silanus.--Narcissus's pretended dream.--Messalina's confirmation of it.--Claudius alarmed.--Silanus is executed.--Unbounded influence of Messalina.--Caius Silius.--Messalina's attachment to him.--Hesitation of Silius.--His decision.--Claudius.--Public works at Ostia.--The obelisk.--Immense ship.--Messalina continues her wicked career.--Silius intoxicated with his elevation.