"No thought of marriage?" he repeated, with one of his mirthless laughs, "no thought, mayhap, of the husband whom I would choose for thee? No doubt there is even now lurking somewhere in this palace a young gallant who alone has the right to aspire to Dea Flavia's grace."
"My lord is pleased to jest," she said coolly, "and knows as well as I do that no patrician can boast of a single favour obtained from me."
"Then 'tis on a slave thou hast chosen to smile," he said roughly.
Then as she did not deign to make reply to this insult, he continued:
"Come! Art mute that thou dost not speak when Cæsar commands?"
"What does my lord wish me to say?"
"Hast a lover, girl?"
"No, my lord."
"Thou liest."
"Did I deceive my lord in this, then had I not the courage to look boldly in the Cæsar's face."