She raised herself on the pillows and sighed deeply again, as if to prove that the groan which had escaped her had not been involuntary. “I am afraid,” she said in a low voice, “that I am too much accustomed to liberty, ever to make myself happy again within the bars of this golden cage. I have too long been a free and unfettered woman, to have retained any talent for being Empress. The marble walls of a palace weigh upon me like lead. Ah! Polycharma! I am longing already for my quiet retreat on the Quirinal, or for Baiae and its delicious wilderness.” “Oh! I understand that,” exclaimed the girl. “Particularly for Baiae--is there a more heavenly spot on earth? The bench under the hedge of bay, with that lovely view over the blue sea! And when the full moon rises over the hill--it is beyond words. And do you remember the young knight from Mediolanum,[282] who recited to us the woes of Queen Dido,[283] and whom you permitted to kiss this white hand as his reward? He trembled like an aspen in the evening breeze. Ah! and Xanthios, the beautiful young Greek from Cumae! How desperately the boy was in love with me!” Domitia tried to smile. “Poor child,” she said sadly. “And you too will find out what it is to live at Caesar’s court.” “Ah well!” said Polycharma airily, “by the grace of the gods, we will be able to retain some fragment of our lost freedom. Your steward is a very shrewd and clever man, and he will see what can be managed. And for your sake, Sovereign Mistress, he would be ready to burn down Rome.” “Indeed? What makes you think so?” “Well--of course we all have our own ideas.--Stephanus lives and toils for nothing but your Highness, and for the glory of your name. It was he, who conquered Caesar’s obstinacy and made your return possible. And confess, gracious mistress--Baiae may be lovely, and the evening hours in the park there were indeed delightful, but to share the throne of Caesar, the ruler of the world--that is yet more lovely and delightful!” “Who can tell....” said Domitia. “Stephanus, at any rate, thought so.” “I do not understand you.” “Well, I mean that he has always done his best....” “But it seems to me, that it is no more than his duty.” “Certainly. Still, there is a way of doing one’s duty--a devotedness....” “What are you aiming at?” asked the Empress. “First you speak as if you wanted to keep silence, and then you break off as if you wished to speak....” “I only thought....” “Speak out boldly, Polycharma, and have done with this mysterious behavior, which is like the incoherence of a sibyl.”[284] “By the gods! but I dare not. Besides I only guess at it; he could never be so bold....” “You are talking in riddles. Speak out; I command you!” “Oh!” cried the girl contritely. “How am I to say it? Stephanus is consumed by a hopeless passion. He is dying of silent love for the charms of his imperial mistress.”