The slave closed the door. Soon after he reappeared and said, “Enter.”
“Hail, O sub-prefect!” said Gyges, when he saw his friend Macro waiting in the atrium to receive him.
“Hail to thee, Gyges!” said Macro. “I feared thou wouldst have difficulty in reaching here. I should have sent thee a passport, but I am watched too closely in the camp. Come apart with me and let me hear thy story.”
He led Gyges into an adjoining room and locked the door behind them. Taking a lighted lamp from a pedestal and carefully looking around the chamber, he went into a second room, locking the door between these two apartments. There were no openings in the last room except that of the closed door. “We shall be safe here from informers,” he said.
“Where is Junius, O Macro?” inquired Gyges.
“Dead,” replied Macro. “His property was confiscated. I have bought this house.”
“Of what sickness did he die?”
“Of a malady far too common in these times,” replied Macro, bitterly. “He was wealthy. Sejanus wished his money, and informers charged Junius with treason. The good and innocent man opened his veins. But come, O Gyges, tell me, why wert thou arrested? Why were Gannon’s parents and sister put into prison? In the camp I can learn nothing of their crime. They were guarded by special servants of Sejanus. Through a soldier I learned of Psyche’s departure. Ah! there are many mysteries in the Praetorian Camp that even the sub-prefect cannot unravel!”
“Art thou sure that no one will overhear us?”
“Ay; I have carefully locked the doors. But come! I cannot hide myself long. What secret hast thou that will make the greatest man in Rome tremble?”