The eastern-looking youth, holding the hand of the child Caius Caligula, and followed by Pontius Pilate, waited for Augustus in a passage—through which Paulus and Thellus were now trying to make their way into the street.
When the emperor came out, observing that the youth desired to speak with him, he stopped, saying,
"What wish you, Herod Agrippa?"
"Emperor, I have told you that this man is not my uncle."
"And I," said Augustus "have now settled the question. He is not."
"This officer behind me (Pilate is his name) has been very obliging to us ever since our arrival. I wish, my sovereign, you would send him to Judea as procurator."
"He is too young," replied Augustus; "but I will put his name in my tablets. Perhaps, under my successor, he may obtain the office."
"I want a favor," cried the child Caius.
"What is it, orator?" asked Augustus. (Caligula displayed as a child a precocious volubility of speech, which procured him the epithet by which he was now addressed.)
"That man, that black Jew—who pretended to be my friend's uncle—won't you put him to death?"