“I have the best reason. I have to-day, by the special messenger from Verulam, received commands from your father, the noble Severus, that you are to be committed to my care till you come to man’s estate. I went to seek you at the house of Clœlia Pudentia, and she bade me seek you at the schools, and thence again I was sent to the Circus Maximus. Return with me and watch the race out.” “Nay!” Casca said, “I have had quite enough of the race.” “You will prefer the Coliseum to-morrow,” the man said, with a malignant smile. “There is fine sport coming on there, to which I bid you. But you must see my credentials for thus accosting you. If you will not return to the Circus, accompany me to my house at the foot of the Quirinal Hill, and I will lay before you your father’s letter. Surely you have heard my name--Antonius Scæva--I hold a high office in the Emperor’s household. I am as well known as the Palatine,” he said, with a cynical smile. Casca accompanied his new companion rather reluctantly, and listened to his somewhat bombastic talk with disgust. He would greatly have preferred remaining with Clœlia, in the quiet retirement of her humble home. He dreaded the return to the life that he had led at Verulam, and yet the commands of his father, he knew too well, could not be set aside, and he had no alternative but to obey. Antonius’s house was one of the most magnificent in the valley below the Quirinal and Esquiline Hills. Besides the spacious atrium, or large outer court, there was a third large peristyle, from which immense apartments opened, furnished in the most magnificent style. There were carpets from Eastern looms, and many coloured curtains of purple and gold embroidery, from Babylon. Curious carving in ivory and metal were on every side; and Antonius said, as he led Casca to one of the most magnificent chambers-- “Well, there is no great hardship in taking up your abode with me. The emperor himself is pleased to frequent this house, and we are ready with a banquet for him at any moment. A penalty, you may say, to pay for imperial favour. Now we will take that couch and throw aside these parchments, and have a light repast.” Antonius clapped his hands, and as if by magic a retinue of slaves appeared, bearing all kinds of refreshments, in silver and gold cups and flagons, with dishes of all the viands then most in favour with the luxurious Romans, the degenerate representatives of the noble and hardy race which had laid the foundation of the great empire, even now hastening to its fall!