haveotherbusinesstoattendtojustnowthansuchdeath-bedgossip。
Thesethingsdonotcometomyears。“
IlookedatIreneandIrenelookedatme。
“Augusta，“Isaid，“Idonotbelieveyourstory。NospearwoundedHeliodorewhileIwasnearher，andwhenIwasnotnearheryourGreeksweretoofarawayforanyspearstobethrown。Indeed，unlessyoustabbedhersecretly，shewasnotwounded，andIamsurethat，howevermuchyouhavehatedher，thisyouwouldnothavedaredtodoforyourownlife’ssake。Augusta，foryourownpurposesyouaretryingtodeceiveme。Iwillnotmarryyou。Doyourworst。YouhaveliedtomeaboutthewomanwhomIlove，andthoughIforgiveyoualltherest，thisIdonotforgive。YouknowwellthatHeliodorestilllivesbeneaththesun。“
“Ifso，“answeredtheEmpress，“youhavelookedyourlastuponthesunand——her。NeveragainshallyoubeholdthebeautyofHeliodore。Haveyouaughttosay？Thereisstilltime。“