"What?" retorted Mesembrius; "because you lie, Aper, when you say that Numerian issues his orders through you."
"What? What do you mean?" shouted the soldiers who had gathered around the two.
"I mean that Numerian is no longer living!" cried Mesembrius in ringing tones. "No, no, the strong odour of amber issuing from his tent is only to disguise the scent of corruption, and Aper has long taken advantage of you by issuing orders in Numerian's name."
The soldiers forced their way into Numerian's tent and found the old man's words confirmed. Numerian had lain dead a long time; his body was far advanced in decomposition.
Aper was instantly put in chains by the soldiers on account of this deception; in the afternoon an empty throne was erected in the open fields for the election of a new Imperator.
Mesembrius walked through the ranks of the legions, recommending Diocletian, whom the soldiers fairly forced to take his seat upon the throne.
Then Aper was brought forward.
"I charge you, publicly and plainly," said Mesembrius, "with having murdered Numerian and betrayed us to Carinus."
"And we condemn you," roared the army with one voice.
"And I execute the sentence," said Diocletian, stabbing with his own hand the prisoner sentenced by the troops.