She seized one of the pillows and brought it down over the seat of the divan, and held it firmly as if to prevent it from being thrown off.
"Thus!" she said venomously.
"But the nurses and Charicles, the physician," Caligula protested, fearing nevertheless that his protest might hold good.
"Put them out! Will they dare resist the coming emperor? Have Macro aid thee, so he dare not tell upon thee."
She was becoming cool. It would be good to vent her murderous impulses on something. Caligula gazed at her with fascination in his face.
"Come, then, thou, and see it done! Neither shalt thou talk," he said suddenly.
She stepped to his side, but before she reached the exit of the inclosure, she stopped and looked squarely into his eyes.
"Herod hath a slave who hath wronged me," she said.
"Which one?" he demanded.
"The Essene!"