“Go, and be soundly flogged!” or even worse. What then was his surprise when Clodianus, who on first glancing at the tablet had frowned darkly, suddenly lost his expression of angry defiance, and looked anxiously round at the sentinels.
“Have they seen this?” he asked, drawing the lad aside.
“No, my lord.”
“Where did you find this tablet?”
“It was lying under the great sovereign’s pillow.”
“And you stole it?”
“Nay, my lord. It fell out, when Caesar lost consciousness.”
“Caesar is sick, then?”
“I said so before. He screamed as if an asp had stung him; then he fainted. The leech says there is no danger....”
“Let us hope so, let us hope so.—Did any one see you pick up this little tablet?”