What if Pratinas were wrong?
What if there were really gods, and furies, and punishments for the wicked after death?
And then came the other side of the shield: a great fortune his; all his debts paid off; unlimited chances for self-enjoyment; last, but not least, Cornelia his.

She had slighted him, and turned her back upon all his advances; and now what perfect revenge! Lucius was more in love with Cornelia than he admitted even to himself.

He would even give up Clyte, if he could possess her.

And so the mental battle went on all day; and the prick of conscience, the fears of superstition, and the lingerings of religion ever grew fainter.

Near nightfall he was at his post, at the Temple of Saturn.