‘Humph! I shall be able to judge of your efforts when I go to the villa. Meanwhile what have you to tell me of—come nearer!’
Tigellinus approached a step or two as desired, and replied, ‘There is little or nothing that I have been able to gather since I was last here. The people seem to be full at present with the Prefect’s visit here—it is whispered everywhere that he is to be honoured with the hand of the noble Livia, for which reason he has come hither.’
‘Well!’
‘Does Caesar wish me to say exactly what is commonly said in Rome?’
‘Exactly!’
‘I will speak then without fear. It seems still to pass as a joke, presumptuous and incredible as it may appear, that the Prefect Sejanus is called the autocrat, and you, Caesar, the governor of an island.’
Tigellinus seemed not altogether at ease in imparting this scandal, but Caesar gazed into the fire with a face as unmoved as granite. Not a sparkle rose to his eyes, not a curl to his lip.
‘Is that all?’ he said dreamily.
‘Yes; except that the Romans seem to believe in it.’
‘Any more?’