‘And who dwells therein?’ she inquired.
‘The Prefect, who is betrothed to Livia, the Emperor’s daughter-in-law—he is the greatest man in the Empire they say—he lives there at present. But the villa belongs to Caesar—like that one, and that, and that.’ He pointed to the elevated summits around.
‘The greatest man in the Empire,’ she murmured, with a smile; ‘and what of Caesar?’
‘He is even now over there,’ explained Tucca, sweeping his grimy hand up toward the towering heights behind them; ‘he moves about from one place to another. To-morrow may find him over there—as likely as not.’
She followed his pointing finger to the eastern cliff in the distance, where the white walls of the fortress peeped up against the sky.
‘And that?’ she inquired.
‘Is the villa of Jove, of which he is the fondest. It is built in with huge walls; it is full of guards and stores of provisions they say, and the sea roars a thousand feet below.’
Tucca shuddered as he recalled the threat of Zeno.
‘Full of guards, say you—do you know any of those same guards?’
‘No, good lady; I have seen them, but I know none of them. They keep watch and ward over Caesar wherever he goes.’