tells me there is more than one man ready to slay Commodus at the first
chance. Severus, Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus keep themselves
informed as to what is going on; their messengers are in constant
movement. If Commodus should lift a hand against either of those three,
that would be the signal for civil war. All three would march on Rome."

"Caesar is much more likely to learn of the plotting through his own
informers, and to try to terrify the generals by killing their
supporters here in Rome," said Marcia. "What does Sextus intend? To
kill Caesar himself?"

Narcissus nodded.

"Well, when Sextus thinks that time has come, you kill him! Let that be
your task. We must save the life of Commodus as long as possible. When
nothing further can be done, we must involve Pertinax so that he won't
dare to back out. It was he, you know, who persuaded me to save
Maternus the highwayman's life; it was he who told me Maternus is
really Sextus, son of Maximus. His knowledge of that secret gives me a
certain hold on Pertinax! Caesar would have his head off at a word from
me. But the best way with Pertinax is to stroke the honest side of him
--the charcoal-burner side of him--the peasant side, if that can be done
without making him too diffident. He is perfectly capable of offering
the throne to some one else at the last minute!"

A step sounded on the other side of the curtain. "Caesar!" Narcissus
whispered. As excuse for being seen in conversation with her he began
to show her a charm against all kinds of treachery that he had bought
from an Egyptian. She snatched it from him.