Accuse me, or attack me, and whatever be _my_ fate, I can say that which will send your black soul down to Tartarus with guilt enough for Minos to punish.

Your delicately anointed skin would be sadly bruised by the stripes falling upon it.

And now, if these creatures will stand one side, I will leave you." And Fabia drew her mantle about her, and walked straight past the awestruck slaves into the atrium, where she unbolted the door and passed out.

Gabinius stood gazing after her, half-fascinated, half-dazed.

Only when the door closed did he burst out to one of the slaves:-- "Timid dog, why did you let her escape ?" "Dominus," whimpered the menial, "why did _you_ let her escape ?" "Insolence!" cried Gabinius, seizing a staff, and beating first one, then the other, of his servants indiscriminately; and so he continued to vent his vexation, until Fabia's litter was well inside the Porta Capena.
II Fabia had thus escaped from the clutches of Gabinius, and the latter was sullen and foiled.