But the jurist still objected:
"Rusticiana, the influential woman, the widow of Boëthius, the daughter of Symmachus, is favourable to our league. Will she remain so if this man enters it? Can she ever forget and forgive? Never!"
"She can. Do not believe me, believe your eyes."
With these words Cethegus quickly turned and entered one of the side-passages, whose opening had been hidden until now by his own person.
Close to the entrance a veiled figure stood listening; he caught her hand:
"Come," whispered he, "come now."
"I cannot! I will not!" was the almost inaudible answer of the resisting woman. "I curse him! I cannot look at him, the wretch!"
"It must be. Come; you can and you shall--for I will have it so." He threw back her veil; one look, and she followed as if deprived of the power of will.
They turned the corner of the entrance:
"Rusticiana!" cried the whole assembly.