Martialis, at the end of the second tedious day, went to receive the answer to Caesar’s epistle, and, after securing it carefully, set out also on his return.
On the second morning following this, about dawn, Zeno entered his cell in the villa Neptune, and found him lying fast asleep on his bed. He went away at once and reported the same to the Emperor, who himself proceeded with little delay to visit the returned prisoner.
When he entered, the latter was still asleep, and received a shake on the shoulder from the Imperial hand.
‘So, you have returned,’ said Tiberius, as Martialis leapt to his feet and saluted; ‘the letter.’
Martialis ripped the cloth of his inner garment and took out the despatch. Caesar stepped aside and broke the seal, and ran his eye briefly over the contents.
‘Good!’ he said, with a brightened eye, as he rolled up the paper; ‘have you succeeded in keeping yourself unrecognised?’
‘Perfectly well, Caesar, for anything I know to the contrary,’ replied Martialis. ‘I entered and came away from the city [pg 398]at nightfall, and lodged near the Porta Navalis, where there was small chance of recognition—especially in my disguise.’
‘A savoury part to be lodged in, and, as you say, not often liable to the visits of your comrades from the opposite side of the city. You have carried out my commission perfectly well—what of your own business?’
‘So please you, Caesar, there is little doubt as to the identity of my betrothed. It can be satisfactorily proved that she is the grandchild of Fabricius, stolen from him when she was but a child.’
‘So much the better for you in every way—how do you propose to prove it?’