"She is my daughter, Sergius," answered Aurelia, in a tone of deep tenderness; "a daughter's honor must be something to every mother!"
"And a son's life to every father!" said Catiline with a fierce sneer. "I had a son once, I remember. You wished to enter an [14]empty house on the day of your marriage feast. I do not think you found him in your way! Besides, for honor—if I read Lucia's eyes rightly, there is not much of that to emperil."
When he spoke of his son, she covered her face in her richly jewelled hands, and a slight shudder shook her whole frame. When she looked up again, she was pale as death, and her lips quivered as she asked—
"Must I, then? Oh! be merciful, my Sergius."
"You must, Aurelia!" he replied sternly, "and that now. Our fortunes, nay, our lives, depend on it!"
"All—must she give all, Lucius?"
"All that he asks! But fear not, he shall wed her, when our plans shall be crowned with triumph!"
"Will you swear it?"
"By all the Gods! he shall! by all the Furies, if you will, by Earth, and Heaven, and Hades!"
"I will go," she replied, something reassured, "and prepare her for the task!"