As soon as the Pagan appeared before him, a sensible change took place
in Vetranio. The presence of Ulpius in the chamber was a positive
relief to the senator's perturbed faculties, after the mysterious,
overpowering influence that the moral command expressed in the mere
presence of the father and the master of the house, at such an hour, had
exercised over them. Over Ulpius he had an absolute right, Ulpius was
his dependant; and he determined, therefore, to extort from the servant
whom he despised an explanation of the mysteries in the conduct of the
master whom he feared, and the daughter whom he began to doubt.
'Where is Antonina?' he cried, starting as if from a trance, and
advancing fiercely towards the treacherous Pagan. 'She has left the
room--she must have taken refuge with you.'
With a slow and penetrating gaze Ulpius looked round the apartment. A
faint agitation was perceptible in his livid countenance, but he uttered
not a word.
The senator's face became pale and red with alternate emotions of
apprehension and rage.
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