She must choose her own ruin or that of Plautius.

In going to the feast, she had hoped that Vinicius and Petronius would win her from Caesar, and return her to Pomponia; now she knew that it was they who had brought Caesar to remove her from the house of Aulus.

There was no help.

Only a miracle could save her from the abyss,--a miracle and the might of God.
"Acte," said she, in despair, "didst thou hear Vinicius say that Caesar had given me to him, and that he will send slaves here this evening to take me to his house ?" "I did," answered Acte; and, raising her arms from her side, she was silent.

The despair with which Lygia spoke found in her no echo.