"Yes," replied the professor. "That was the language of the Roman people."
"I have read it then," said the girl; and she sighed as she thought of the tears she had shed over her Latin lessons and Cæsar's accounts of his wars with the Gauls.
"Julius Cæsar was one of the greatest generals the world has ever known," said Professor Gates. "He was a powerful leader and ruler of men, and it was this great power that made him ambitious to be called Emperor of Rome, and to make the republic an empire.
"Some of his friends feared he would be successful in this attempt, and, joining his enemies, they assassinated him. They loved the freedom of their country more than they did Cæsar.
"His body was burned in the Roman Forum," added the professor. "But not long after his death the republic did actually become an empire."
"Tell us about the empire," begged Rafael, who always wished to know everything at once.
"Not to-day," said Mrs. Sprague, looking at her watch. "It is time for luncheon and our afternoon rest."
"That is true," said the professor, looking at the sun. "Some other day, with Mrs. Sprague's permission, I will take you to the Colosseum and then we will hear about the empire."