“But may we not wait for our daughter?” pleaded Hera.
“No. We leave at once,” repeated the officer, impatiently.
Ordering two soldiers to await Psyche, and two others to carry Gannon’s body to a crematory, the officer gave the command to depart. The grief-stricken and terrified parents, after taking a heart-breaking farewell of their beloved son, were then led away.
Sejanus was dictating a letter when Alcmaeon and Hera were led into his office. They were obliged to wait until he had finished. Before the murderer of his son Alcmaeon trembled; before the great Sejanus the schoolmaster felt like a child. Hera tightly held Alcmaeon’s arm in hers and talked to him in a subdued but nervous tone. She was repeatedly warned by Alcmaeon not to acknowledge having seen the writing on Gannon’s tunic. At last they were ordered to come forward. Sejanus addressed Alcmaeon first, saying, “Thy son is dead.”
“Ay, O great Sejanus.”
“He was impertinent.”
“Say not so, O Sejanus—”
“Ay, impertinent; and he inquisitively pried into my letters.”
“Truly, O Sejanus!” exclaimed Alcmaeon, greatly surprised.
“What has he told thee?” asked Sejanus, in a rough tone.