"The kingdom was in more danger through this boy than I. Where is the Queen?"
"She sits speechless beside the open coffin of her son! She has sat there the whole night."
Cethegus sprang up.
"That must not be! It does no good. She belongs to the State, not to this corpse. So much the less because I have heard whispers concerning poison. The young tyrant had many enemies. How about that matter?"
"Very uncertain. The Grecian physician, Elpidios, who examined the corpse, certainly speaks of some striking appearances. But he thinks that if poison has been used it must be a very secret one, quite unknown to him. In the cup from which the unfortunate boy drank there could not be discovered the least trace of suspicious contents. So it is generally believed that excitement had again brought on his former malady, and that this was the cause of his death. But still it is well that, since the moment of your leaving the assembly, you were always in the presence of witnesses; grief breeds suspicion."
"How is it with Camilla?" the Prefect inquired further.
"She has never yet awakened from her stupor; the physicians fear the worst. But I came to ask you what shall now be done? The Queen speaks of suppressing the examination concerning you."
"That must not be," cried Cethegus. "I demand an investigation. We will go to her immediately."
"Will you intrude upon her at the coffin of her son?"
"Yes, I will. Do you shrink from it in your tender consideration? Well then, come afterwards, when I have broken the ice."