"’So it is true! This which they have told me, and which I might have seen with my own eyes. My daughter, whom I have loved and honoured, has demeaned herself even to the level of a slave--has become one of the vile! You know your fate--the fate of the wanton. Even though I have loved you, this past love shall not save you. Were you not my own child I would even now sell you in the slave-market, that you might follow the vile calling you have chosen. As it is, you shall die!’ "When Viola heard this she fell upon her knees before her father, and with tears implored him to spare her life. Then, in her terror, a thought crossed her mind. She might yet save herself by a lie. To hide her guilt she knew would be impossible, but she might throw all the blame upon another, and so save herself. "Between sobs and lamentations she said--’Even though you kill me, yet am I innocent of evil. How could I know, who am but a child, of the wickedness of men? I went out to hunt in the forest, and the stag led me far from home, and when we slew it the darkness of night was falling, and there was none near save the slave whom you gave me as a servant. And behold, when we strove to return home, we could not find our way; and as we wandered helpless into the thick places of the forest, night came on.’ Then Viola, having thrown all the blame upon Aureus, finished her story in these words--’Knowing not the harm that would follow, I hid this thing in my heart; and though he, my destroyer, has since been hateful to me, yet dared I not show it lest the evil which had happened might be suspected by any.’ "Then the father, willing if possible to save his child, was moved by her words and tears, though still unconvinced of her innocence. And he said-- "’I will prove and see if these things be even as you say.’ "So they returned together to the house, and he led his daughter into an inner room, and commanded his servants to bring Aureus bound before him. Then having dismissed the slaves, he repeated to the boy the story which his daughter had told; and when he had done this, he said-- "’If this be true, then shalt thou be crucified in the sight of all the people; but if thou canst prove that this was no act of violence, I will sell thee as a slave, and the girl shall die!’ "The boy looked upon the pleading and terrified face of the one he loved, and lifting up his head, swore by the gods, saying-- "’It is true even as thy daughter has said. I, and only I, am to blame.’ "Then the father turned to the girl and said--’And you hate him even as you said?’ "And she, simulating anger, answered--’I hate him--I hate him!’ "But Marius, still doubting, replied, so that he might try her further--’Thou shalt this night then have thy revenge, even before the sun shall set.’