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Caesar Dies by Talbot Mundy
page 132 of 185 (71%)
unseen world. Instantly Narcissus leaped ahead into the darkness,
weaponless but armed by nature with the muscles of a panther. Commodus
leaped after him; his mood reversed again. Now emulation had him; he
would not be beaten to a scene of action by a gladiator. He let his
cloak fall and a senator tripped over it.

There were no lamps. Something less than twilight, deepened here and
there by shadow, filled the tunnel. By a niche intended for a sentry
the attendants were standing helplessly around the body of a man who lay
with head and shoulders propped against the wall. Narcissus and
another, like knotted snakes, were writhing near by. There was a sound
of choking. Pavonius Nasor was silent. He appeared already dead.

"Pluto! Is there no light?" Commodus demanded. "What has happened?"

"They have killed your shadow, sire!"

"Who killed him?"

"Men who sprang out of the darkness suddenly."

"One man. Only one. I have him here. He lives yet, but he dies!"
Narcissus said.

He dragged a writhing body on the flagstones, holding it by one wrist.

"He was armed. I had to throttle him to save my liver from his knife.
I think I broke his neck. He is certainly dying," said Narcissus.

Some one had gone for a lamp and came along the tunnel with it.
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