“Golden words of peace should be bathed with wine from a golden cup,” said Tiberius, with an effort at calmness. “But come,” he added, “a toast to peace and the absent Sejanus!”
Livilla anxiously watched every motion of Tiberius, Drusus, and Lygdus. She nervously clutched a pillow from the couch, and unconsciously compressed it with such violence that she felt the firm pressure of her fingers on the palm of her hand. In her excitement she drew her cheek between her teeth, and bit it so hard that it bled.
At first, when the wine was offered him, Tiberius started. Every detail was being enacted as Sejanus had predicted. The emperor watched his son’s expression, and marvelled at the indifferent air with which Drusus insisted upon offering him the golden cup. He marvelled still more when Drusus, with no show of fear, took the golden cup in his own hands. Tiberius thought the dissimulation of Drusus was most cleverly done.
But Drusus was innocent of the terrible crime which his father attributed to him. He did not dream that an infamous plot was being ingeniously carried out. He lightly raised the golden cup, and at the toast to peace he readily nodded assent. But when Tiberius added to the toast the name of Sejanus, Drusus recoiled and trembled. If there were any doubts in the mind of Tiberius that Drusus wished to poison him, these doubts vanished at the confusion with which Drusus appeared to be seized. With visible emotion Drusus took the cup, and in one swallow drank half the contents.
The crafty eunuch watched minutely every expression and action of Drusus and Tiberius. Having been informed by Sejanus which cup Tiberius would choose, the eunuch had put poison into the golden cup. When Drusus drank from that cup, the face of Lygdus remained passive, but his snake-like eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
After drinking the wine Drusus turned towards his couch, carrying the golden cup in his hand. He staggered before he reached it, and the cup dropped from his hand and bounded upon the floor. He recovered himself and finally reached his couch. In a thick voice he called for water. Before the water could be given him he became unconscious. Writhing in the throes of agony, he fell heavily upon the floor and expired.
At this horrible sight the guests were filled with consternation and became almost panic-stricken. They hastily departed, mingling expressions of fear and condolence. Tiberius exulted in the narrow escape he had had, and looked upon the death of his son as a just visitation; for now he believed completely the story of Sejanus. Ordering the body to be carried to the room of Drusus, and disdaining to proffer words of consolation to Livilla and her weeping daughter Julia, he departed. In a short time the triclinium was deserted by all except the servants, who moved about in awe-struck silence. Not so with Lygdus, who smiled exultantly as he removed every trace of the horrible crime.
At the sight of the lifeless form of Drusus, prone on the marble floor, Livilla felt a guilty pang. She shed no tears, but a wild impulse came upon her to hide herself. Antonia had remained to comfort the stricken family. Julia being hysterical, the grandmother remained with her. When the palace had become quiet, and no sound could be heard but the sobs of the fatherless Julia, Sejanus triumphantly entered.
Lygdus met him, and together they went into the chamber of Drusus. Sejanus smiled as he contemptuously pushed the dead face of his innocent victim.