‘I say no more—it is useless,’ replied Afer abruptly.
‘Good! Then the matter shall be transferred to Rome and probed to the bottom forthwith,’ said Tiberius sternly, as he sat up; ‘I command it, and it is no less due to society. Prefect, I give Domitius Afer and this man Cestus into thy care. Let them be conveyed to the city and handed over to the charge of the Pretors there, who shall examine fully into the truth, with the help of whatever witnesses are forthcoming.’
‘Noble Fabricius, remember your pledge to me,’ said Cestus, as alarm began to get the upper hand of the exultation which had hitherto lighted his coarse visage.
‘Upon his full confession I promised this man that he should come to no hurt,’ said Fabricius, immediately rising from his seat. ‘I pray you will not see fit to cause me to break faith.’
‘Granted, Fabricius,’ returned the Emperor graciously; ‘nevertheless I insist on a full inquiry. You must attend the court with the woman and the maiden if required.’
‘One other request, Caesar.’
‘Go on.’
‘The headstrong boy—the Centurion Martialis, who offended in his love for this girl—I beseech you show clemency to him, and pardon his youth and hot blood. He is loyal and brave, and his desperation carried him away.’
‘How say you, Prefect,’ said Tiberius, turning to Sejanus; ‘is your Centurion to go scot free of his behaviour?’
‘I am of the same opinion as Fabricius, and think he has been sufficiently punished. Caesar may well overlook a boyish rashness,’ replied Sejanus.