“Two days since, my lord.”
“But how darest thou tempt the elements while my men shake with fear?” growled the emperor, still irritated by the non-arrival of his letters.
“‘Lose not a moment!’ were the orders of Macro. The fishermen who rowed me were bribed by promises of large reward,” replied the young man, modestly.
“What is thy name?” the emperor asked.
“Gyges,” replied the young hero; for it was no other than the brave young charioteer that had ventured out upon the turbulent sea.
“Thou art a Greek, the charioteer of the green faction,” said Tiberius. “Antonia speaks of thee in this letter. Tell me all thou knowest.”
“I was betrothed, my lord, to a maiden named Psyche. She had a brother, a bright lad, named Gannon. He was employed by Sejanus as a secretary and a messenger. He has carried letters even to thee, O mighty Tiberius. One day he happened to read a communication from Livilla to Sejanus. On the night of that day he was murdered by order of Sejanus. But before his death the lad sewed to the under side of his tunic a message. The lad’s dead body, clothed in that tunic, was carried to his home. The tunic was there removed. The parents of the lad were seized and imprisoned before they could bury his body. The father is an inoffensive schoolmaster; the mother, a good and honest woman. At the time of their arrest Psyche and I were walking in the Campagna. When we reached her home, she also was arrested. Going into the house, she found the tunic of her dear brother. Broken-hearted, she kissed it, when suddenly she discovered the message. I read it with her. The poor boy wrote that he had done wrong; that he had ‘read a letter from L to S about Lygdus.’ These initials, my lord, referred without doubt to Livilla and Sejanus; for Gannon had told his parents that he had always carried messages between them. These two names are, therefore, the only ones he could have meant. I have known this Lygdus, and at one time nearly became his victim. On the road to the camp with my betrothed, I besought her not to reveal her knowledge of the writing. Now, O mighty emperor, hearken unto what follows. When I left Psyche at the camp, I went to the house of Lygdus. He was not there. I then went to the palace of Drusus. The gate-keeper informed me that but that very morning the eunuch had entered the service of Livilla as cup-bearer. While I was speaking at the gate, calls of the guests for their litters were heard. I waited and watched the people hastening in confusion from the palace. I learned that Drusus had died suddenly. O noble lord, well do I remember every episode of that horrible night! After the guests had left, Sejanus arrived and entered the palace. When he left, Lygdus bade him farewell at the gate. An order had been issued for my arrest; but my stable-boy warned me and I fled to Casinum. When Macro became sub-prefect, I hastened to him with my story. I have ended, O mighty Tiberius.”
While Gyges related his story, the emperor nervously worked his fingers about his mouth. Apparently these startling disclosures made but little impression upon his callous nature. When Gyges finished, he drawled out, “Antonia mentions not her daughter’s name.”
“’Twas Livilla without doubt, my lord, who sent the message to Sejanus about Lygdus.”
“Where is now the lad’s tunic?”