"I have cast my eyes on no man, my lord, and have no desire to marry."
"Wouldst consecrate thy virginity to Vesta then?" he asked with a sneer.
"Rather that," she replied, "if my lord would so deign to command."
"Tush!" he broke in impatiently. "Herein thou dost offend the gods and me! 'Tis impious to waste thy beauty in barren singleness; the gods hate the solitary maid unless she be ill-favoured and unpleasing to every man. Thou of the House of Cæsar hast a mission to fulfil and canst not fulfil it thus in isolation, fashioning clay figures that have no life which they can consecrate to Cæsar. But have no fear, for I, thy lord, do watch over thy future—the man whom I will choose for thee will be worthy of thy smiles."
He drew up his misshapen figure to its full height and beamed at the young girl with an expression of paternal benignness. He was delighted with himself, delighted with his own oratory. He was such a born mountebank that he could even act the part of kindness and benevolence, and he acted it at this moment so realistically that the ignorant, confiding girl was taken in by his tricks.
She saw the gracious smile and was too inexperienced, too devoted, to see the hideous leer that he was at pains to conceal.
"The choice will be difficult, gracious lord," she said, feeling somewhat reassured, "and will take some time to make."
"Therefore will I trust to inspiration," he rejoined blandly.
"The gods no doubt will speak when the time comes."
"Aye! They will thunder forth their decree at midday to-morrow," said Caligula, with well-assumed majesty.