“True! One more important than thou is demanded. Is it Vitelius?”
Vitelius grew pale, but began to laugh.
“My fat,” answered he, “might start the fire again.”
But Nero had something else on his mind; in his soul he was looking for a victim who might really satisfy the people’s anger, and he found him.
“Tigellinus,” said he after a while, “it was thou who didst burn Rome!” A shiver ran through those present. They understood that Cæsar had ceased to jest this time, and that a moment had come which was pregnant with events.
The face of Tigellinus was wrinkled, like the lips of a dog about to bite.
“I burnt Rome at thy command!” said he.
And the two glared at each other like a pair of devils. Such silence followed that the buzzing of flies was heard as they flew through the atrium.
“Tigellinus,” said Nero, “dost thou love me?”
“Thou knowest, lord.”