She screamed, screamed shrilly, and ran into the house.

Already the familia was alarmed.

Two or three freedmen of Lentulus were rushing toward the terrace.

They were murdering Quintus! He was resisting, resisting with all the powers of a wild animal driven to its last lair.

Outside, on the terrace, where but an instant before she and her lover were cooing in delicious ecstasy, there were oaths, blows, and the sharp pants and howls of mortal struggle.