"Drusus's sesterces shall be yours! Every one of them!" Lucius Ahenobarbus was a debauchee, a mere creature of pleasure, without principle or character; but even he had a revulsion of spirit at the hardly masked proposal of the enthusiastic Greek.

He flushed in spite of the wine, then turned pale, then stammered, "Don't mention such a thing, Pratinas.

I was never Drusus's enemy.

I dare not dream of such a move.

The Gods forefend!" "The Gods ?" repeated Pratinas, with a cynical intonation.