The Praetor's Dungeon — Talbot Mundy

"DRAW NEAR, AND I WILL WHISPER THE WORD,"
the Vestal commanded TROS OF SAMOTHRACE
"that will be sufficient proof to Caesar that you come from me. He will believe your lips. But if you use it falsely, then I know of no death and no curse that were not bliss as compared to what your destiny will hold! There are surely depths of misery where worms that crawl in corruption appear godlike in comparison to him who dies so deep. For you will know the praetor's dungeon if you dare to BETRAY THE CAESAR!