Thus, when the two consuls were seated at his table, he
burst out into sudden and profuse laughter; and, upon their courteously
requesting to know what witty and admirable conceit might be the occasion
of the imperial mirth, he frankly owned to them, and doubtless he did not
improve their appetites by this confession, that in fact he was laughing,
and that he could not but laugh, (and then the monster laughed
immoderately again,) at the pleasant thought of seeing them both headless,
and that with so little trouble to himself, (_uno suo nutu_,) he
could have both their throats cut. No doubt he was continually balancing
the arguments for and against such little escapades; nor had any person a
reason for security in the extraordinary obligations, whether of
hospitality or of religious vows, which seemed to lay him under some
peculiar restraints in that case above all others; for such circumstances
of peculiarity, by which the murder would be stamped with unusual
atrocity, were but the more likely to make its fascinations irresistible.
Hence he dallied with the thoughts of murdering her whom he loved best,
and indeed exclusively--his wife Caesonia; and whilst fondling her, and
toying playfully with her polished throat, he was distracted (as he half
insinuated to her) between the desire of caressing it, which might be
often repeated, and that of cutting it, which could be gratified but once.
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