His black eyes blazed amid the deathly pallor of his face, and a thrill of astonishment passed through the bystanders. Even Livia leaned forward in her seat with rapt attention.
‘Have a care,’ quoth Cestus, shrinking back, ‘or he will knife me again, as he did before.’
‘Command yourself, Afer,’ said Tiberius drily; ‘you shall have plenty of opportunity to reply.’
‘Am I to be traduced by such a villain, whom I never saw before? And in the face of these present? Do you, Fabricius, my uncle, whom I have served and loved as a son so long—do you countenance it in silence thus? Oh, monstrous! To be so gulled by a cunning knave after all that has been practised on you in the same fashion, and thus calmly to listen to such an outrage on your own flesh and blood—shame!’
‘Caesar has said you will have an opportunity, at a proper time, of disproving what this man says. Let us proceed and seek for the truth, and woe upon the evildoer,’ said Fabricius in hollow tones.
‘Ay, indeed, woe upon him,’ said Afer loudly.
‘Have you, then, cast me off, patron? Do you disown me after all my services?’ observed Cestus, with a grin.
‘No more of that, Suburan,’ cried Tiberius. ‘It is a grave charge to make against one of the rank and family of Titus Afer. Beware, if it be an idle piece of mischief.’
‘It’s nothing but sober truth, Caesar.’
‘Lying, cunning knave!’ hissed the knight.