But you must be so indulgent as to listen." "Well ?" said Claudia, yawning again and settling herself.
"Your late husband left some little property," began the other.
"Yes, to be sure; oh! my poor Caius!" and Claudia began to sob and wipe away the tears.
"And this property I have involved," continued Lentulus, driving straight ahead and never heeding the widow's display of emotions.

"It will be impossible for me to clear away the encumbrances for some little time." Claudia was excited now.

She sprang up from her cushions and cried, or rather screamed:-- "Brute! Robber of orphans and widows! Heartless wretch! Have you pledged the slender fortune Caius left me, and the dowry of my poor dear Cornelia ?" And her voice sank into hoarseness, and she began to sob once more.
Lentulus regarded her with vexation and contempt.

"_Mehercle!_ what a fuss you are making! The deed is done, and there's no helping it.

I came here, not to offer excuses, but to state the facts.