“The Suffragetae,” explained the official; “they threaten to interfere with the chariot race.”

“I’d like to see them do it!” exclaimed the Emperor indignantly.

“I fear your Imperial wish may be unpleasantly gratified,” said the Master of the Ceremonies; “we are taking, of course, every possible precaution, and guarding all the entrances to the arena and the stables with a triple guard; but it is rumoured that at the signal for the entry of the chariots five hundred women will let themselves down with ropes from the public seats and swarm all over the course. Naturally no race could be run under such circumstances; the programme will be ruined.”

“On my birthday,” said Placidus Superbus, “they would not dare to do such an outrageous thing.”

“The more august the occasion, the more desirous they will be to advertise themselves and their cause,” said the harassed official; “they do not scruple to make riotous interference even with the ceremonies in the temples.”