“While the emperor is away great events may happen.”
“I do not understand thee,” she faltered.
“Have words lost their meaning since thou hast been ill?” he asked, quoting her own words with an evil smile.
“If the emperor leaves Rome will blood cease to flow?” she asked.
“The guilty will always suffer,” replied the minister.
“Can friends greet each other without exile or death being pronounced?”
“Honest friends have never been molested.”
“Was Claudia dishonest?”
“I fought to save her life more than thou didst,” said Sejanus.
“It is terrible to think of that persecuted and outraged woman,” said Agrippina, passing her hand over her eyes.