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LOCUSTA 207
'
to me.'
It shall be done on the Ides,' he said. ' Send Julius Pollio
Tigellinus struck while the iron was hot, and the tribune
was in attendance before Nero's rage had had time to cool.
Bring Locusta here at once,' he said.
'
The tribune executed the command, and Locusta's green
eye gleamed even more balefully than was its wont when the
tribune ushered her into the Emperor's chamber.
But Nero received them both with a burst of petulant
anger.
'
' '
You have failed me ! he exclaimed. You are traitors,
both of you. While you are taking measures to shield yourselves
you leave me obnoxious to the worst perils.
I told
you to provide me with a sure poison.'
'
We were but anxious to avert suspicion, Emperor,' said
Locusta, in the soft tones which involuntarily reminded the
'
hearer of a serpent's hiss. You know there is a Julian law
murder and poisoning.'
against
The anger of Nero showed itself in mean, ignoble ways,
and, like a bad boy in a passion, he was not ashamed to
strike Locusta in the face.
Don't talk of the Julian law to me, woman,' he said as
'
'
if I was afraid of the laws !
;
Make me a poison which shall
work like a dagger-stab, or you shall be ordered off for execution
to-morrow on the old charges.'
Locusta shrank from his blow, and for one instant glared
at him as though she would have liked to poison him. But
she knew his power, and felt sure of his rewards so she
;
merely said
'
Britannicus is such a strong, healthy boy, that the task is
less easy. But Csesar shall have his wish. I have a poison
here which will do the work.'
Try it, then, on some animal,' he said.
'
'I dare say the tribune could procure me a kid,' said
Locusta.
A slave was despatched to find a kid, and when the bounding,
playful creature was brought Locusta dropped some of
the poison on a piece of bread dipped in milk.
The kid ate the bread and milk, and frisked no more but
lay down and curled up its limbs, which quivered with convulsive
twitchinss.