‘Well, it is no matter whether you did, or whether he forgot to tell me—when did you come?’ asked Tiberius. ‘Only this very night, illustrious, since sundown.’ ‘Where did you land, and what have you come with? Use your tongue and spare mine, good Tigellinus,’ continued the Emperor, with the faintest wrinkle of his eyebrows. ‘Yes, I was about to!’ rejoined Tigellinus, brisking up at his master’s tone. ‘I have those with me that I have chosen with my best endeavours to be worthy of Caesar’s household. I landed at the same place as usual, not far from the Scopuli, and left my companions of the voyage on board the galley, while I came on hither to wait upon you, Caesar, without delay. Meanwhile I sent up to the villa Jovis, and, no doubt, the noble Priscus will see them removed and safely bestowed at once.’ ‘Humph! I shall be able to judge of your efforts when I go to the villa. Meanwhile what have you to tell me of—come nearer!’ Tigellinus approached a step or two as desired, and replied, ‘There is little or nothing that I have been able to gather since I was last here. The people seem to be full at present with the Prefect’s visit here—it is whispered everywhere that he is to be honoured with the hand of the noble Livia, for which reason he has come hither.’ ‘Well!’ ‘Does Caesar wish me to say exactly what is commonly said in Rome?’ ‘Exactly!’ ‘I will speak then without fear. It seems still to pass as a joke, presumptuous and incredible as it may appear, that the Prefect Sejanus is called the autocrat, and you, Caesar, the governor of an island.’ Tigellinus seemed not altogether at ease in imparting this scandal, but Caesar gazed into the fire with a face as unmoved as granite. Not a sparkle rose to his eyes, not a curl to his lip. ‘Is that all?’ he said dreamily. ‘Yes; except that the Romans seem to believe in it.’ ‘Any more?’ ‘Nothing, I grieve to say, illustrious; for you only instructed me to collect what floats from citizen’s mouth to citizen’s mouth.’ ‘If you did more I would have you flung from the walls of the villa into the sea,’ observed Tiberius, with the same placidity of manner. ‘I never seek to exceed the bounds of your commands,’ replied Tigellinus hastily, giving an involuntary shudder at the same time. ‘Meanwhile I am glad to know that the Prefect is so zealous in the duties which fall to his share,’ said Tiberius, calmly spreading his fingers over the warmth of the fire. ‘What!—your highness is glad!’ exclaimed Tigellinus, betrayed into sudden surprise. But the piercing glance of the Emperor transfixed him, and his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. He clenched his fist in suspense and cursed his heedlessness in his heart. ‘Glad!’ repeated Tiberius, without removing his gaze—‘rejoiced, worthy Tigellinus, as every master should be at the diligence of his servant. Should it not be so?’