"He? Nothing. But his wife! that clumsy Antonina, whose whole triumph lies in her good health."
And the delicate Empress clenched her little white fist, the fingers of which had become more transparent than ever.
"Ah," she exclaimed, "how I hate her! Yes, and I envy her too! Stupid people are always healthy. But she shall not rejoice while I suffer!"
"And the fate of the Capitol depends upon such a woman's hatred!" exclaimed Cethegus to himself. "Down with Cleopatra!"
"The foolish woman is in love with her husband's honour and glory. There I can wound her fatally!" continued Theodora.
As she spoke the twitching of her delicate features betrayed an attack of acute pain; she threw herself back upon her cushions.
"My little dove," said Galatea, "do not be angry. Thou knowest what the Persian said. Every excitement, be it of love or of hate----"
"Yes. To hate and to love is life! And as one grows older, hatred is almost sweeter than love. Love is false; hate is true."
"In both," said Cethegus, "I am a novice compared to you. I have always called you the Siren of Cyprus. One can never be sure that you will not suddenly tear your victim in the very act of embracing him--either from love, or from hate. And what has suddenly changed your love of Antonina into hatred?"
"She has become virtuous, the hypocrite! Or can she be really so weak-minded? It is possible. Her fishy blood can never be made to boil. For a strong passion or a bold crime she was always too cowardly. She is too vain to forego admiration and too paltry to reciprocate it. Since she accompanied her husband on his campaign she has become quite virtuous. Ha, ha, ha! because she was obliged! Even as the devil fasts when he has nothing to eat. Because I kept her lover a prisoner."