‘You must be mistaken in coming here to me.’
‘I was bidden to come to Tucca’s cottage and address myself to the noble Plautia, newly come from Rome,’ was the bland response.
‘Most strange! How could Caesar know my name and my presence here?’
‘I know not, lady, nor seek to know.’
‘I am a stranger to Tiberius in every way. There is no more about me and my business now, than there has ever been to concern him. What can he want with me?’
‘What is in Caesar’s heart Caesar’s servants dare not seek to know. To hear is to obey. But the ruler of the world has a heart for every one of his subjects; why then should Plautia, one of the most beautiful, be surprised at receiving the Imperial notice?’
Plautia smiled in lofty scorn, but the gravity of Zeno’s face was unmoved.
‘Say, then, what you have to say without further question,’ said she.
‘My master’s own lips bade me say that, having heard of your arrival, it was neither to his credit nor to his own satisfaction that so lovely and accomplished a visitor to the island of Capreae should be allowed to remain lodged in the hut of a husbandman,’ said Zeno, sweeping his hand and eyes round with an expression of disgust and contempt; ‘he therefore despatched me, at the earliest, with his greeting, and instructions to convey you to the villa Jovis, where you may command such attention as befits your position, until you think fit to bring your visit to Capreae to a close. May it please you, therefore, to attire yourself, that Caesar’s bidding may be fulfilled as quickly as possible, and that your gracious self may be rid of this vile place. The morning is stormy, but the rain has ceased, and a covered litter waits outside, in which the slaves will bear you under the shelter of the palace roof in but a few minutes.’
‘You may return at once to the palace, and tell Tiberius that I thank him for the proffer of his hospitality,’ said Plautia, in the same calm, lofty manner; ‘but my stay in Capreae is so short that this cottage will amply suffice for my accommodation for the remainder of the time. I am no less grateful to him, however.’