office, the interests of the State, or any other consideration,
provided only she could accomplish her wishes.

While still on the stage, she became with child by one of her friends,
but did not perceive her misfortune until it was too late. She tried
all the means she had formerly employed to procure abortion, but she
was unable prematurely to destroy the living creature by any means
whatsoever, since it had nearly assumed the form of a human being.
Therefore, finding her remedies unsuccessful, she abandoned the
attempt, and was obliged to bring forth the child. Its father, seeing
that Theodora was at a loss what to do, and was indignant because, now
that she had become a mother, she was no longer able to traffic with
her person as before, and being with good reason in fear for the
child's life, took it up, named it John, and carried it away with him
to Arabia, whither he had resolved to retire. The father, just before
his death, gave John, who was now grown up, full information
concerning his mother.

John, having performed the last offices for his dead father, some time
afterwards repaired to Byzantium, and explained the state of affairs
to those who were charged with the duty of arranging admission to an
audience with the Empress. They, not suspecting that she would
conceive any inhuman designs against him, announced to the mother the
arrival of her son. She, fearing that the report might reach the ears
of the Emperor, ordered her son to be brought to her. When she saw him
approaching, she went to meet him and handed him over to one of her
confidants, whom she always intrusted with commissions of this kind.
In what manner the unfortunate youth disappeared I cannot say. He has
never been seen to this day--not even after his mother's death.