“Does he not pay for the games that Nero gives?”
“Ay— But didst thou not hear a noise?”
“What kind of noise?” asked Drusus, springing to his feet.
“Go into the atrium,” she whispered, affrightened, “and see who has overheard us.”
Drusus rushed into the atrium, and in the room that adjoined the one where his mother reclined, he saw a servant conceal something in the bosom of his tunic.
“What have you hidden there?” demanded Drusus.
“Nothing, my master,” replied the servant, as he hastened away.
“Hold!” cried Agrippina, as she appeared in the atrium. “Move not a step! What ho! Artus, Mano!” she called. When these two servants appeared, she commanded: “Search that servant; he has stolen something.”
In a moment Artus and Mano discovered, hidden in the tunic of the servant, a tablet with a stylus attached to it by a cord.
“Give it me,” said Agrippina. Rapidly glancing at it, she read a portion of her conversation with Drusus. “Ah!” she exclaimed. “Thou art a spy! Beat him and send him into the streets!” she ordered, as she smoothed away the writing on the waxen tablet. There was a struggle as Artus and Mano led the spy up the steps to the servants’ quarters. Shortly after deadened blows were heard, followed by cries and groans.