"How interesting," purred Theodora, suffering his odious embrace, although she shuddered at his touch. "And, man-like, you were revenged?" "She has met the fate I had decreed upon her who wantonly betrayed the honor of her lord." "Then she confessed?" "She denied her guilt. What matter? I never loved her. It is you I love! You, divine Theodora." And, carried away by a gust of passion, he drew her to him, covering her brow, her hair, her cheeks with kisses. But she turned away her mouth. She tried to release herself from his embrace. Roger uttered an oath. "I have tamed women before--ay--and I shall tame you," he sputtered, utterly disregarding her protests. She drew back as far as his encircling arms permitted. "Release me, my lord!" she said, her dark eyes flashing fire. "You are mad!" "No heroics--fair Theodora-- Has the Wanton Queen of Rome turned into a haloed saint?" He laughed. His mouth was close to her lips. Revulsion and fury seized her. Disengaging her hands she struck him across the face. There was foam on his lips. He caught her by the throat. Now he was forcing her beneath his weight with the strength of one insane with uncontrollable passion. "Help!" she screamed with a choking sensation. A shadow passed before her eyes. Everything seemed to swim around her in eddying circles of red. Then a gurgling sound. The grip on her throat relaxed. Laval rolled over upon the floor in a horrible convulsion, gasped and expired. Basil's dagger had struck him through, piercing his heart. Slowly Theodora arose. She was pale as death. Her guests, too much engaged with their beautiful partners, had been attracted to her plight but by her sudden outcry. They stared sullenly at the dead man and turned to their former pursuits. Theodora clapped her hands. Two giant Nubians appeared. She pointed to the corpse at her feet. They raised it up between them, carried it out and sank it in the Lotus lake. Others wiped away the stains of blood. Basil bent over Theodora's hands, and covered them with kisses, muttering words of endearment which but increased the discord in her heart. She released herself, resuming her seat on the dais. "It is the old fever," she turned to the man beside her. "You purchase and I sell! Nay"--she added as his lips touched her own--"there is no need for a lover's attitude when hucksters meet." Though the guests had returned to their seats, a strange silence had fallen upon the assembly. The rhythmical splashing of the water in the fountain and the labored breathing of the distressed wine-Bibbie's seemed the only sounds that were audible for a time. "But I love you, Theodora," Basil spoke with strangely dilated eyes. "I love you for what you are, for all the evil you have wrought! You, alone! For you have I done this thing! For you Alberic lies dead in some unknown glen. For you have I summoned about us those who shall seat you in the high place that is yours by right of birth."