“DOMITIA! THE SWORD!” Page 316.
But she stood, stern, cold, without stirring a step, and she folded the sword of her father to her breast, with her arms crossed over it.
“Because of Paris—No!”
“The sword! be speedy. I will finish him!”
“Because of Cornelia—No!”
“Domitia—help!”
“Because of Lucius Lamia—No!”
She went to the curtains, drew them apart, and called down the passage to Norbanus.
The two Prætorian præfects were there with the chamberlains—but they were ill able to restrain the guard who suspected that their prince and Emperor was in danger and scented treachery.
Instantly a rush was made. Some of the soldiers, with the præfect Norbanus, came on running, whilst the other, Petronius Secundus, endeavored by his authority to restrain the rest.