‘Have you ever seen him in the house of your master?’ ‘Yes—once, not long ago.’ ‘Have you ever had any other business with him?’ ‘No.’ ‘Have you ever seen this man in company with your master?—answer!’ ‘I have.’ ‘Enough then for the present—you may go.’ When the slave had left the room there fell a momentary deep silence upon all present, ominous and painful. ‘Titus Afer, do you now deny all knowledge of this man Cestus?’ said Tiberius in sardonic tones. With his arms folded, and his eyes fixed before him, Afer remained as if turned to granite, unheedful of everything whilst his slave unconsciously dashed all hope of escape away. ‘Do you deny all knowledge of this man Cestus?’ repeated Tiberius. ‘I have already done so,’ replied Afer stolidly; ‘I refuse to say more. I am prejudged—it is useless to say more.’ Another silence fell on the room and the Prefect frowned and fidgeted. But the Emperor seemed in no hurry to relieve the embarrassing stillness. ‘There has been no judgment delivered so far,’ he said at length. ‘Do you impugn the words of your slave?’ ‘He is a Greek, and a born liar,’ said Afer bitterly. Thrasullus and Seleucus the philosophers, both of them Greeks, pricked up their ears at the insinuation, and reared their heads in indignation. ‘Greek or no Greek, do you say that he has now lied?’ said Tiberius. ‘I say no more—it is useless,’ replied Afer abruptly. ‘Good! Then the matter shall be transferred to Rome and probed to the bottom forthwith,’ said Tiberius sternly, as he sat up; ‘I command it, and it is no less due to society. Prefect, I give Domitius Afer and this man Cestus into thy care. Let them be conveyed to the city and handed over to the charge of the Pretors there, who shall examine fully into the truth, with the help of whatever witnesses are forthcoming.’ ‘Noble Fabricius, remember your pledge to me,’ said Cestus, as alarm began to get the upper hand of the exultation which had hitherto lighted his coarse visage. ‘Upon his full confession I promised this man that he should come to no hurt,’ said Fabricius, immediately rising from his seat. ‘I pray you will not see fit to cause me to break faith.’ ‘Granted, Fabricius,’ returned the Emperor graciously; ‘nevertheless I insist on a full inquiry. You must attend the court with the woman and the maiden if required.’ ‘One other request, Caesar.’ ‘Go on.’ ‘The headstrong boy—the Centurion Martialis, who offended in his love for this girl—I beseech you show clemency to him, and pardon his youth and hot blood. He is loyal and brave, and his desperation carried him away.’ ‘How say you, Prefect,’ said Tiberius, turning to Sejanus; ‘is your Centurion to go scot free of his behaviour?’ ‘I am of the same opinion as Fabricius, and think he has been sufficiently punished. Caesar may well overlook a boyish rashness,’ replied Sejanus.