Glyceria fled that same night to the temple of Cybele. CHAPTER XI. While in Rome pleasures alternated with horrors the troops commanded by Numerian marched over rough roads, amid severe privations, to the Bosporus. Here they were joined by the fugitive Mesembrius who, when he left Rome, fled directly to Numerian. No one had been able to see this noble Caesar for several weeks. He suffered severe pain in his eyes, and did not leave his tent. Mesembrius made his complaint to the leaders next in command. One, Diocletian, promised to avenge him, while the second, Aper, referred to Numerian and refrained from giving any opinion of his own. "Then let me go to Numerian; if I speak to him, he will be the first to draw his sword against his brother," urged the Senator. "You cannot see him," replied Aper, placing himself before the entrance to Numerian's tent. "No one except myself is allowed to speak to him during his illness. He even gives his orders to the army through me alone." Mesembrius sniffed the air suspiciously. "Why does so strong a smell of musk and amber come from this tent?" "Why?" repeated Aper, his face blanching. "Why do you desire to know, Senator?" "What?" retorted Mesembrius; "because you lie, Aper, when you say that Numerian issues his orders through you." "What? What do you mean?" shouted the soldiers who had gathered around the two. "I mean that Numerian is no longer living!" cried Mesembrius in ringing tones. "No, no, the strong odour of amber issuing from his tent is only to disguise the scent of corruption, and Aper has long taken advantage of you by issuing orders in Numerian's name." The soldiers forced their way into Numerian's tent and found the old man's words confirmed. Numerian had lain dead a long time; his body was far advanced in decomposition. Aper was instantly put in chains by the soldiers on account of this deception; in the afternoon an empty throne was erected in the open fields for the election of a new Imperator. Mesembrius walked through the ranks of the legions, recommending Diocletian, whom the soldiers fairly forced to take his seat upon the throne. Then Aper was brought forward. "I charge you, publicly and plainly," said Mesembrius, "with having murdered Numerian and betrayed us to Carinus." "And we condemn you," roared the army with one voice. "And I execute the sentence," said Diocletian, stabbing with his own hand the prisoner sentenced by the troops. In the midst of this wrathful mood Marcius arrived with the order given to him by Manlius and, without knowing what had happened, he delivered his appointment to the new Caesar. "Who is this?" asked Diocletian, turning to Mesembrius. "The Caesar's barber." Diocletian turned smiling to the soldiers.