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Updated: May 31, 2025
"That may all be true," Hirnio cut in, "but Opsitius, do let Agathemer say his say, whatever it may be." "You are right and I was wrong," Tanno admitted. "Proceed, Agathemer." "Let me describe her behavior fully, for the sake of others," Agathemer resumed. "When she sights a victim she flattens herself out on the ground and gives her long, quavering squall.
As he was eyeing the assembly to note their manner of receiving this proclamation his expression changed. "Egnatius!" he called sharply. "Come here!" Egnatius Capito came forward. Like Tanno and myself he was conspicuous since he was in his toga, most of those present being athletes and clad for practice. "I did not notice you among your fellow senators at my levee," said the Emperor.
As I am the butt, either way, don't be too hard on me: Please set me right." They chorused at him that they had all heard the story, most of them soon after the marvel took place; that they had always believed it, and believed it then. I corroborated Hirnio's exactitude as to all the details. Tanno looked about again, less wildly, but still like a man in a daze.
Meanwhile Tanno and I, seated comfortably side by side, varied our watching of Commodus and our praises of his driving with talk of my embroilment with both sides of the feud, with rehearsing to each other the unseen missteps which had led me into such a hideous predicament, and with discussions of what might be done to set me right with both clans.
When we were back again on the dining-sofas Tanno, as was his habit, took charge of things after his breezy fashion. "With the permission of our Caius," he said, without asking my permission, of which he was sure, "I appoint myself King of the Revels. Where's the head butler?"
When I asked if I might despatch letters to my friends I was told that the Emperor had given orders that I was to communicate with no one and no one with me. I worried over Vedia's anxiety and almost as much over the probable disquiet of Agathemer, Tanno and even of Galen. But I was helpless and endeavored to be calm. I was certainly comfortable and hopeful, though impatient.
Tanno and Galen could indicate their grief and sympathy only by looks and gestures, for they dared not attempt to approach me. Then Ravillanus called: "Where is that barber?" The apparitor who had gone off before the trial began produced a barber. "Trim his hair and beard!" Ravillanus ordered.
Agathemer came in and explained that my tenants had a petition to present to me and had gathered, hoping that I would receive them after dinner. "I must see this and hear what they have to say," Tanno declared. "Have you any objections to our going with you, Caius?" he asked.
Tanno, the irresistible, at once urged me to read the note aloud, saying: "Don't be a hog. Don't keep all those good things to yourself. Let us have a share of the tid-bits. Read it out to all of us." I yielded. Of course the three Satronians looked sour. But Tanno knew how to smooth out any embarrassing situation. He beamed at me and fairly bubbled with glee. "I bet on you," he said.
"We Romans," Tanno bantered, "are lamentably ignorant on the life- histories of brood-sows, slave-girls, prize-heifers and such-like notabilities of Sabinum." "She is no Sabine," Hirnio retorted, "but, as far as the locality of her birth and upbringing goes, is as Roman as you are. Did you never hear of Ummidius Quadratus?" "Hush!" Tanno breathed.
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