"I have read it then," said the girl; and she sighed as she thought of the tears she had shed over her Latin lessons and Cæsar's accounts of his wars with the Gauls. "Julius Cæsar was one of the greatest generals the world has ever known," said Professor Gates. "He was a powerful leader and ruler of men, and it was this great power that made him ambitious to be called Emperor of Rome, and to make the republic an empire. "Some of his friends feared he would be successful in this attempt, and, joining his enemies, they assassinated him. They loved the freedom of their country more than they did Cæsar. "His body was burned in the Roman Forum," added the professor. "But not long after his death the republic did actually become an empire." "Tell us about the empire," begged Rafael, who always wished to know everything at once. "Not to-day," said Mrs. Sprague, looking at her watch. "It is time for luncheon and our afternoon rest." "That is true," said the professor, looking at the sun. "Some other day, with Mrs. Sprague's permission, I will take you to the Colosseum and then we will hear about the empire." CHAPTER XIV A MORNING IN THE COLOSSEUM Edith was sitting at the hotel window with her note-book open before her. "Professor Gates tells us so much," she said, "that it is all mixed up in my mind. "But it is my dearest wish to get it straightened out," she added quickly, as she saw the troubled look on her mother's face. "What is your dearest wish?" she asked Rafael, who was reading a letter from his mother. "I have none," he answered, "since the Signora has been so good as to bring me to this wonderful city." "Oh, Rafael!" Edith said merrily, "you must have found an Italian blarney stone somewhere." Then she went on more seriously, "Every one always has a dearest wish. As fast as one is fulfilled, another takes its place." He smiled. "Very well, since it must be so, I have a dearest wish," he said, "and it is to serve the king." Edith looked at him with laughing eyes. "That is a very fine wish," she said; "but I think mine is more likely to be granted first, because Professor Gates is to take us to the Colosseum this very morning, and I shall ask him every question about this history that I can think of." Several days had passed since their excursion to the Appian Way, but the children had found every one full to overflowing. The mornings had been spent in the art galleries and churches, and the afternoons in driving through the Campagna or the beautiful grounds of the Villa Borghese. One whole day had been devoted to visiting St. Peter's Cathedral, which is the largest church in the whole world, and to seeing the treasures of the Vatican,--the home of the Pope.