of Sextus’ doings, although he protects Sextus as far as he can and sees him now and then.  Sextus’ plan is to keep all three rival factions by the ears, so that if anything should happen—­” he nodded toward the curtain, from behind which came the sounds of childish laughter and the crashing voice of Commodus encouraging in some piece of mischief—­“they would be all at odds and Pertinax could seize the throne.”

“I wonder whether I was mad that I protected Sextus!” exclaimed Marcia.  “He has served us well.  If I had let them catch and crucify him as Maternus, we would have had no one to keep us informed of all these cross-conspiracies.  But are you sure he favors Pertinax?”

“Quite sure.  He even risked an interview with Flavia Titiana, to implore her influence with her husband.  Sextus would be all for striking now, this instant; he has assured himself that the world is tired of Commodus, and that no faction is strong enough to stand in the way of Pertinax; but he knows how difficult it will be to persuade Pertinax to assert himself.  Pertinax will not hear of murdering Caesar; he says:  ’Let us see what happens—­if the Fates intend me to be Caesar, let the Fates show how!’”

“Aye, that is Pertinax!” said Marcia.  “Why is it that the honest men are all such delayers!  As for me, I will save my Commodus if he will let me.  If not, the praetorian guard shall put Pertinax on the throne before any other faction has a chance to move.  Otherwise we all die—­all of us!  Severus—­Pescennius Niger—­Clodius Albinus—­any of the others would include us in a general proscription.  Pertinax is friendly.  He protects his friends.  He is the safest man in all ways.  Let Pertinax be acclaimed by all the praetorian guard and the senate would accept him eagerly enough.  They would feel sure of his mildness.  Pertinax would do no wholesale murdering to wipe out opposition; he would try to pacify opponents by the institution of reforms and decent government.”

“You must beware you are not forestalled,” Narcissus warned her.  “Sextus 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.