Should the child recover, they will forget this, but in the opposite case Poppaea will be the first to accuse Lygia of witchcraft, and wherever she is found there will be no rescue for her." A moment of silence followed; then Vinicius said,--"But perhaps she did bewitch her, and has bewitched me." "Lilith repeats that the child began to cry the moment she carried her past us.

And really the child did begin to cry.

It is certain that she was sick when they took her out of the garden.

Marcus, seek for Lygia whenever it may please thee, but till the infant Augusta recovers, speak not of her to Caesar, or thou wilt bring on her Poppaea's vengeance.

Her eyes have wept enough because of thee already, and may all the gods guard her poor head." "Dost thou love her, Acte ?" inquired Vinicius, gloomily.
"Yes, I love her." And tears glittered in the eyes of the freedwoman.
"Thou lovest her because she has not repaid thee with hatred, as she has me." Acte looked at him for a time as if hesitating, or as if wishing to learn if he spoke sincerely; then she said,--"O blind and passionate man--she loved thee." Vinicius sprang up under the influence of those words, as if possessed.
"It is not true." She hated him.