The picture of Diodoros, which had completely vanished from her thoughts while she had been listening, suddenly appeared to her, and, as she fancied, he looked at her reproachfully.
Had she, then, transgressed against her betrothed?
No, no, indeed she had not! She loved him, and only him; and for that very reason, her upright judgment told her now, that it would be sinning against her lover to carry out Caracalla's wish, as if she had become his fellow-culprit, or certainly the advocate of the bloody outrage.

She could think of no answer to his "That is what you must and shall do!" that would not awaken his wrath.

Cautiously, and with sincere thanks for his confidence in her, she begged him once more to allow her to leave him, because she needed rest after such a shock to her mind.

And it would also do him good to grant himself a short rest.

But he assured her he knew that he could only rest when he had fulfilled his duty as a sovereign.