He came out, carrying Telamonion. The child lay asleep in his arms.
"Go and put that child down. Now earn your freedom—go in and kill the emperor! He has poisoned himself, and he thinks we did it. Give him your dagger, Pertinax!"
"I am only a slave," Narcissus answered. "It is not right that a slave should kill an emperor."
Marcia seized the gladiator by the shoulders, scanned his face, saw what she looked for and bargained for it instantly.
"Your freedom! Manumission and a hundred thousand sesterces!"
"In writing!" said Narcissus.
"Dog!" growled Pertinax. "Go in and do as you are told!"
But Narcissus only grinned at him and squared his shoulders.
"Death means little to a gladiator," he remarked.
"Leave him to me!" ordered Marcia.