“’Twill but serve to legalize the things that I now do covertly,” he responded. “Perchance, in his increasing years, Tiberius will make thee co-emperor?” suggested Livilla. “Long since should I have seized the throne,” said Sejanus. “I have been too lenient towards him. But thou must marry me at once, my love. Then usurpation will seem less harsh to the people.” “Are the soldiers still loyal to thee?” asked Livilla. “Ay, my love, loyalty is easily bought with gold,” he replied. “But if thou becomest emperor, what will become of Tiberius?” she inquired. “On the day we wed, he dies,” contemptuously responded Sejanus. “Then there are Agrippina and her sons Drusus and Caligula?” she added. “They shall also die,” he said with cold-blooded indifference. “Now, my Livilla, thou shalt become an empress! Thy little son, Tiberius, shall be brought from Capri, and educated as the future ruler. Therefore hail to thee, O mother of a line of emperors! Hail to thee! Our lives, my love, must be united in matrimony. Our ambitious plans have been too intricately interwoven for us longer to live separated.” “Be it as thou wishest, my love,” she acquiesced, dazzled by the promise of so much glory. “Thy beauty, my captivating divinity, fades not with time,” he added. “Rather does it become more radiant as the years go by. Ah, Livilla, through the years of thy married life I have loved thee. In thy widowhood have I loved thee less? My love is still fresh to-day.” “I too have loved thee, Sejanus,” she murmured, as he kissed her lips. “Ah, thou rulest my life!” “Nay, my love, as empress thou shalt rule me. But what wouldst thou have me do for thee?” he asked. “There is only one request I would make; send Lygdus away,” she answered. “Dost thou fear him, my love?” “Ay, his face torments me,” replied the guilty woman. “But how progresses the search for Gyges?” “One of my soldiers living at Casinum admired four stallions that were being driven by a boy,” said Sejanus. “Upon inquiry, it was learned that an obscure Greek lodging in a farm-house had trained these horses. The boy’s name was Aldo. He worked for Gyges in the stables of the Circus. Aldo was arrested and questioned about his master. The little lad even suffered torture, but his lips remained sealed. A Greek answering the description of Gyges travelled to Capri. Another went to Tusculum. By to-morrow the charioteer will be captured.” “Dost thou not fear him?” she asked. “I fear no one,” he replied with a defiant air. “When we are absolute rulers, my love, none of our enemies shall escape us. This charioteer perchance knows nothing. He is the lover of Gannon’s sister. Ah! but trust in me, my love. The plans of Sejanus never fail. Have I not rid the city of our enemies? Everything I have done is for thee. What have I not done to possess thee? What will I not do to retain thee?”