"It must be known to you," he said, "that many of us nobles, many men of equestrian rank, many senators, are gravely anxious concerning the Republic, gravely dissatisfied with the character and behavior, I might say the misbehavior, of our present Prince." "I don't wonder that you pledged me to secrecy," I blurted out. "You are talking treason." "Hear me to the end," he begged, "and you will find that I am talking not treason but patriotism." I grunted and he went on. "Many of us are of the opinion that the Republic, which was never as prosperous as within the past eighty years, is in grave danger of losing much of its Empire, so gloriously extended by Trajan, so well maintained by his three successors, if it continues to be neglected and mismanaged as it is. To save the commonwealth and retain its provinces we must have a Caesar competent, diligent, discreet and brave; and not one of these epithets can be properly applied to the autocrat now in power. We feel that he must be removed and that there must be substituted for him a ruler who is all that the State needs and has the right to expect." "Fine words," I said. "Masking a conspiracy to assassinate our Emperor." He looked shocked and pained. "Hear me out," he pleaded. "I am curious, I confess," I admitted, "to learn what all this has to do with reconciling Vedius and Satronius and regaining me the good graces of both. I ought to terminate the interview, but I am weak. Go on." "Naturally," he said, "both Vedius and Satronius resent what the Emperor did and said concerning your entanglement in their feud and they are both infuriated at their humiliation and at the effective means he took to tie their hands as far as concerns you and to ensure your safety, as far as they were concerned." "Commodus," I interrupted, "is not altogether a bungler when he gives his mind to the duties of his office." "May I go on?" Capito enquired, mildly, even reproachfully and, I might say, irresistibly. He was a born leader of a conspiracy, for few men could be alone with him and not fall under his influence. "Go on," I said. "I am consumed with curiosity to discover how their rage at the Emperor could lead to a reconciliation between them." "It is not obvious, I admit," he said, "but when I explain, you will see how naturally, how inevitably a reconciliation might be expected to result. "You have seen, perhaps often, a peasant or laborer beating his wife?" "Everybody has," I replied. "What has that to do with what you were talking of?" "Be patient!" he pleaded. "You have seen some bystander interfere in such a domestic fracas?" "Often," I agreed. "You have also seen," he continued, "not only the husband turn on the outsider, but the wife join her spouse in attacking her would-be rescuer, have seen both trounce the interloper and in their mutual help forget their late antagonism." "Certainly," I agreed.