others do the murdering and robbing. We have lived like hermits,
showing ourselves only often enough to keep alive the Maternus legend."

"Well, isn't that better than risking your neck trying to make and
unmake emperors?" Narcissus asked.

"I risk my neck each hour I linger in Rome!"

"Well then, by Hercules, take payment for the risk, and cut the risk and
vanish!" exclaimed Narcissus. "Help yourself once and for all to a bag
full of gold in exchange for your father's estates that were confiscated
when they cut his head off. Then leave Italy, and let us be outlaws in
Sardinia."

Sextus laughed.

"That probably sounds glorious to one in your position. I, too, rather
enjoyed the prospect when I first made my escape from Antioch and
discovered how easy the life was. But though I owe it to my father's
memory to win back his estates, even that, and present outlawry is small
compared to the zeal I have for restoring Rome's ancient liberties. But
I don't deceive myself; I am not the man who can accomplish that; I can
only help the one who can, and will. That one is Pertinax. He will
reverse the process that has been going on since Julius Caesar overthrew
the old republic. He will use a Caesar's power to destroy the edifice
of Caesar and rebuild what Caesar wrecked!"

Narcissus pondered that, his head between his hands.

"I haven't Rome at heart," he said at last. "Why should I have? There