They now stood whispering and making love in the shadow of the temple.

Melissa could not hear what they said, yet it reminded her of the sacred night hour when she confessed her love to Diodoros.

She felt as if she were standing by his bedside, and his faithful eyes met hers.

She would not, for all that was best in the world, have awakened him yesterday at the Christian's house, though the awakening would have brought her fresh promises of love; and yet she was on the point of robbing another of his only cure, the sleep the gods had sent him.

But then she loved Diodoros, and what was Caesar to her?
It had been a matter of life and death with her lover, while disturbing Caracalla would only postpone his recovery a few hours at the utmost.