"I know it," Brinnaria admitted, "and I have thought over all
that. But I am old-fashioned in my feelings even if I have often
been the reverse in my behavior. I am revolted at the thought
of Almo as a professional cut-throat--I was insulted at the
sight of him in the arena. I feel that by his abasement of himself
he has obliterated my love for him. It is as if he had never existed.
I shall not marry him, even if we both outlive my obligatory
term of service. I shall never marry anybody. I shall die a Vestal."

"You feel that way now, of course," Lutorius agreed, "but
you will get over it, though you do not think so now."

"I do not believe I shall ever get over it," Brinnaria declared.
"So many things rankle in my thoughts, the small things even
more than what is more important. I grind my teeth over the
mere legal consequences of his having been a gladiator. He
will forfeit half the properties he inherited and he can never
hold any office, civil or military."

"All that," said Lutorius, "the Emperor will attend to in full.
And your thinking of such trifles shows that you even yet
care more for Almo than you admit to yourself.

"You must let me tell you about him. He is in the care of the
best physicians in Rome. They assure me that he will recover,
that his face will show but the merest trace of a scar, no
disfigurement whatever, and that he will walk without the
slightest limp. He is comfortable and convalescing nicely.
I am going to bring you news of him daily, whether you
think you want it or not, and you are going to listen to me