“Look, my lady!” said Psyche, excitedly. “’Tis Macro’s seal!”
“Let me see, my child,” said Agrippina. “Ah! Macro is prefect! Can it be that Sejanus is emperor? Hasten thou, my child; read the contents!”
Quickly breaking the seal, Psyche read the first few words. “’Tis from Gyges!” she screamed with joy. “He is safe! My parents are free! Oh! my lady, said I not that the boat bore good tidings?”
“Read on, O Psyche!”
“Sejanus is dead! Oh! my lady, our enemy has at last received his punishment. Papers for my release have gone to the emperor for his signature! O ye celestial gods, I thank thee! I thank thee!”
“Says Gyges nothing more, my child?” asked Agrippina, moved to unwonted cheerfulness by the excessive joy of Psyche.
“Ay, my lady! I am so happy I know not what to do!”
She continued reading. Her face was radiant, and her black eyes danced as she looked at the letter. Suddenly she uttered a scream. Her face grew white, her eyes frightened. A terrible revulsion of feeling had seized her.
Agrippina quickly asked, “What has happened, my child?”
“O my sweet lady, I love thee. I have tried to lighten thy burden of grief. Yet I had to be the bearer of the news of Nero’s death. Tell me that thou lovest me.”