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Set in Rome during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, the narrative follows two close friends whose divergent lifestyles—one contemplative, the other pleasure-loving—are tested when passion, secrets, and ambition draw them into a perilous web. A consuming love for a young woman prompts personal reckonings, while political tensions and a mysterious Chaldean magician introduce intrigue, moral dilemmas, and danger within the capital’s public spaces and private halls. The story combines vivid historical atmosphere, romantic longing, and supernatural elements to trace how personal loyalties and public threats intertwine in a city fraught with splendor and risk.
[1] The Romans wore the toga on occasions of ceremony.
[2] The Romans divided the time from sunset to sunrise into four night-watches (vigiliae).
[3] Priests paid by the government, who predicted future events.
[4] Citron-wood tables, with an ivory foot.
[5] Marseilles.
[6] Passage leading from the door to the atrium.
[7] Drawing-room.