“Yes; they seized her before midday.”
A moment of silence followed.
“Hast thou seen her?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“In the Mamertine prison.”
Petronius trembled and looked at Vinicius with an inquiring glance. The latter understood.
“No,” said he. “She was not thrust down to the Tullianum [The lowest part of the prison, lying entirely underground, with a single opening in the ceiling. Jugurtha died there of hunger.] nor even to the middle prison. I paid the guard to give her his own room. Ursus took his place at the threshold and is guarding her.”
“Why did Ursus not defend her?”
“They sent fifty pretorians, and Linus forbade him.”