"Then he ordered that a cross of wood should be made ready. When it was prepared and laid upon the ground, he commanded his daughter to come, and the boy was brought forth and laid upon the cross. But when one of the servants was about to take a nail and with the heavy hammer drive it into the boy’s hand, Marius stayed him, saying-- "’She, who has thus been wronged, shall with her own hand take vengeance.’ Then he said to the girl who was standing by his side--’Go!’ And in a low voice he whispered, ’Then shall I know the truth!’ "And Viola, though faint with terror and anguish, dare not hesitate, for she knew that her refusal would be treated as a sign of guilt. So with trembling hands she nailed the lover who died to save her to the cross, and his blood stained her fingers and the white robe she wore. "Then, even as the sun was setting, they lifted the cross on high, and the glow of the evening light fell softly upon the boy’s head. "When Viola went to her room that night, she could not sleep. The thought of her lover still suffering the tortures of his slow death was too horrible. She could no longer bear the anguish of remorse and self-contempt. "’Better,’ she cried, ’had I died ten thousand times than live this awful life!’ "She began to picture all the happy hours that they had spent together; she thought of the love which the boy had always shown her. It was impossible that she should remain any longer in her room. Whatever the risk she ran, whatever pain it might bring, she must see her lover again and ask him to forgive her. Was it too late? Was his suffering over? She took up a short dagger, and moving softly, stole out of the house. "There was a moon, but fortunately at the moment it was covered by clouds, and she passed into the open beyond the enclosure safely. In the gloom she could see the cross standing out against the hills beyond; and even as she looked the clouds passed by, and the moon shone brightly, showing clearly the boy’s drooping head and strained arms. Was he dead? She hurried on until she came to the foot of the cross. The boy slightly moved at the sound of her footstep, and turning his head looked down at her. "’Aureus!’ she cried, ’Aureus! forgive me--forgive me!’ "The boy tried to speak, but for a moment he could not. Then with a great effort he whispered, ’Viola, I love you! I shall always love you!’ And as he said the last word his head fell forward; his pain was over. "But the girl, when she realized that he was dead, having kissed the poor wounded feet, knelt down before his lifeless body; then, baring her breast, she drove the dagger into her heart." "Soon after this Marius left the country, being summoned with several of the Romans to Italy. But the story of these two being handed down, the villa was looked upon as haunted by their dead spirits, and avoided as a place accursed.