Talbot Mundy

Name: The Falling Star — Chapter 12
Author: Talbot Mundy

The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

Summary

“The Falling Star — Chapter 12”, published in 1926, is a work by Talbot Mundy. It explores elements such as Pertinax, Sextus and Narcissus.

Quotes from The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (Talbot Mundy)

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ SO NARCISSUS, who cared only for Sextus, reckoning no other man on earth his friend, went and sat beyond the curtains in the smaller, outer room, straining his ears to catch the conversation and wondering what tragedy the gods might have in store. As gladiator his philosophy was mixed of fatalism, cynical irreverence, a semi-military instinct of obedience, short-sightedness and self-will. He reckoned Marcia no better than himself because she, too, was born in slavery—and Pertinax not vastly better than himself because he was a charcoal-burner’s son. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Narcissus stepped into the darkened room. He left the door open, to have light to do his work by, but Marcia closed it, clinging to the gilded satyr’s head that served for knob with both hands, her lips drawn tight against her teeth, her whole face tortured with anticipation.
“It is better that a gladiator did it,” remarked Pertinax, attempting to look calm. “I never killed a man. As general, and as governor of Rome, as consul and proconsul, I have spared whom I might. Some had to die but—my own hands are clean.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Disillusionment would do no good. She must play on the man’s illusion that he was the master of his own will. “Very well,” she went on, “yours be the decision! No woman can decide such issues. We are all in your hands—Cornificia and Galen—all of us—aye, and Rome, too—and even Sextus and his friends. But you will never have another such opportunity. It is tonight or never, Pertinax!”
He winced. He was about to speak, but something interrupted him. The great door carved with cupids leading to the emperor’s bedchamber opened inch by inch and Telamonion came out, closing it softly behind him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Galen answered.
“Dea dia! There you are!” said Marcia. “I tell you, Pertinax, your Sextus may prove to be another Livius! He has been as ubiquitous as the plague. He knows everything. What if he should turn around and secure himself and his estates by telling Commodus all he knows? It was you who trusted Livius. Do you never learn by your mistakes?” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ But Narcissus only grinned at him and squared his shoulders.
“Death means little to a gladiator,” he remarked.
“Leave him to me!” ordered Marcia. “Go and sit down at that table, Pertinax. Take pen and parchment. Now then—what do you want in writing? Make haste!”
“Freedom—you may keep your money—I shall not wait to receive it. Freedom for me and for Sextus and for all of Sextus’ friends and freedmen. An order releasing Sextus from the guard-house instantly. Permission to leave Rome and Italy by any route we choose.”
“Write, Pertinax!” said Marcia.
Narcissus glanced at Galen. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Leave Rome. Leave Italy. Take Sextus with you.”
“You will let him go?” asked Marcia. “Pertinax, what will become of you? Send to the guard at the gate and command them to seize him! Sextus and Narcissus—”
“Have my promise!” he retorted. “If the fates intend me to be Cæsar, it shall not be said I slew the men who set me on the throne.”
“You are Cæsar,” she answered. “How long will you last? All omens favored you—the murder in the tunnel—now this storm, like a veil to act behind, and—”
“And last night a falling star!” said Galen. “Give me parchment. I will write the cause of death. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ By Romulus and Remus, what is happening to Rome? That falling star last night portended, did it, that a highwayman should dare to try to enter Cæsar’s palace! Ho there, decurion! Bring four men!”
The decurion clanked in. His men surrounded Sextus at a gesture.
“I ought to put you both in cells,” said the centurion. “But you shall have a chance to justify yourself, Narcissus. Go on in. Bring Cæsar’s written order to release this man Maternus—if you can!” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Pertinax showed instant resolution. “Cornificia shall not be dragged in. The responsibility is yours and mine. Let us not lessen our dignity by involving an innocent woman.”
For a moment that made Marcia breathless. She was staggered by his innocence, not his assertion of Cornificia’s—bemused by the man’s ability to believe what he chose to believe, as if Cornificia had not been the very first who plotted to make him Cæsar. Cornificia more than any one had contrived to suggest to the prætorian guard that their interest might best be served some day by befriending Pertinax ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Well, if Cæsar has sent for this friend of yours, he had better first make sacrifices to his gods and pray for something better than befell poor Livius! Yourself too! They say Livius is being racked—doubtless to make him tell more than he knows. I smell panic in the air. With all these palace slaves coming and going you can’t check rumor and I’ll wager there is already an exodus from Rome. Gods! What a night for travel! Morning will see the country roads all choked with the conveyances of bogged up senators! Let us pray this friend of yours may soften Cæsar’s mood. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ He said Rome may need a determined man tonight. But the centurion of the guard recognized him—knew he is Maternus. He refused to summon the commander. Sextus is locked in a cell, and there is no knowing what the guards may do to him. They may try to make him talk. Please write and order him released.”
“Yes, order him released,” said Pertinax.
But Marcia’s strained lips flickered with the vestige of a smile.
“A determined man!” she said, her eyes on Pertinax. “By morning a determined man might give his own commands. Sextus is safe where he is. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Galen, Marcia, Cornificia, Pertinax, Narcissus, Sextus alias Maternus. Do you realize what that means? It is now or never! Why has he put Galen first, I wonder?”
Galen did not appear startled. His interest was philosophical—impersonal.
“I should be first. I am guiltiest. I taught him in his youth,” he remarked, smiling thinly. “I taught him how to loose the beast that lives in him, not intending that, of course, but it is what we do that counts. I should come first! The state would have been better for the death of many a man whom I have cured ”

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Source: Wikisource

Talbot Mundy, The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (1926)

“ Along the Tiber banks there was panic where the river-boats were plunging and breaking adrift on the rising flood and miserable, drenched slaves labored with the bales of merchandize, hauling the threatened stuff to higher ground. ”

Talbot Mundy

Summary

Quotes from The Falling Star — Chapter 12 (Talbot Mundy)

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