‘I have reason to think that, at present, it is pretty well private,’ replied the freedman, with an air of self-satisfaction and importance, ‘but ere long it will be public enough, that is very certain. I have learned that the Prefect Sejanus has obtained Caesar’s consent to his marriage with Livia.’
Glaucus paused, as if to allow the lady to take breath and recover from the effects of his communication.
‘Well,’ said she, as unmoved as marble, ‘is that all?’
‘All!’ echoed Glaucus, staggering back in astonishment and disgust. ‘Why, not half a score of people have yet heard a breath of it!’
Plautia burst into a fit of hearty laughter as she watched the fall of his countenance. ‘Psa, you fool!’ she said, ‘every one knew that the mighty Prefect was angling in the Imperial waters long ago. What reliance can I place on your information? Where did you get it?’
‘In the camp itself, and from the lips of the Prefect’s own eunuch—Lygdus himself.’
‘Truly he might be expected to know; but he is a cunning rogue.’
‘He does know,’ said Glaucus, with increasing emphasis; ‘and what is more the Prefect has been summoned, or has been granted permission, to visit his bride at Capreae, and he is going accordingly in a few days.’
‘Ah, that is something more to the purpose; that is twenty times worth the other, my Glaucus, for it looks like business.’
‘The Prefect,’ continued the freedman, ‘so Lygdus told me, was only ill-pleased that Caesar would not allow more than two or three friends to accompany him, in addition to his usual guard of Pretorians. Tiberius seems mightily afraid of strangers in his enchanted island.’