The Emperor stood up, his face disfigured by fury, and, seizing the messenger by the throat, shook him.
"You lie, caitiff! You lie! You lie!... There is still a God in heaven to shield the kings of the earth ...and He will not permit, do you understand!... Fools!... He will not permit...."
He had a spasm of weakness, and covered his eyes with his hand; the courier, more dead than alive, slunk to the door.
"To-morrow," stammered Constantius wildly; "to-morrow we absolutely must set out!... by forced marches, direct ... as the crow flies ... over the mountains.... We absolutely must go to Constantinople."
Eusebius approached him, with the humblest of bows—
"Divine Augustus! The Lord God has granted you, you His chosen, victory over your enemies. You have annihilated Magnentius, Constantius, Vetranio, Gallus. You will crush this impious——"
But Constantius, wagging his head without listening, muttered—
"Then He exists not; if it is all true, and I am single-handed, alone! Who dares to say that 'He' exists, when such crimes can be accomplished! I've been thinking so a long time...."
He cast a dull look on the courtiers present and said—
"Call in the other."