His courage and his misfortunes woke in the guests a feeling of pity which night and wine made them less careful to disguise.

From that moment the fate of Britannicus was sealed.

Locusta, the celebrated poisoner of ancient Rome, was summoned to the councils of Nero to get rid of Britannicus, as she had already been summoned to those of his mother when she wished to disembarrass herself of Britannicus's father.

The main difficulty was to avoid discovery, since nothing was eaten or drunk at the imperial table till it had been tasted by the _praegustator_.

To avoid this difficulty a very hot draught was given to Britannicus, and when he wished for something cooler a swift and subtle poison was dropped into the cold water with which it was tempered.