"But if Lygia dies of the fever?"
"The Christians say that Christ is vengeful, but just; maybe thou wilt soften Him by thy wish alone."
"Let Him give me some sign that will heal Rufius."
Petronius shrugged his shoulders.
"I have not come as His envoy; O divinity, I merely say to thee, Be on better terms with all the gods, Roman and foreign."
"I will go!" said Poppaea, with a broken voice.
Petronius drew a deep breath. "At last I have done something," thought he, and returning to Vinicius he said to him,—