“I believe thee not,” said Sejanus. He turned to Hera and asked her the same questions, and received the same replies that Alcmaeon had given. Wishing to terrify them into a declaration, he continued: “Ye both have lied. Fairly have ye been treated. One more chance will I give ye. What knowest thou, O Alcmaeon?” “Nothing,” replied Alcmaeon, emphatically. “And thou, woman?” “Nothing,” timidly replied the stricken mother. “If you insist on lying, so be it. We sometimes torture in the camp when we wish to know the truth,” thundered Sejanus. “Have we not suffered enough, O Sejanus?” cried Alcmaeon. But Hera, becoming hysterical at this announcement of Sejanus, revealed what they had read on Gannon’s tunic before Alcmaeon could prevent her. “Ah-h-h!” sarcastically laughed Sejanus. “Gannon has lied to me! His death was an accident. Your knowledge carries with it its own sentence. Your death will not be by accident. But no! Close confinement will suffice for the present.” At this announcement, made in the most cold-blooded manner, Gannon’s parents became horror-stricken. Hera convulsively held to Alcmaeon, who tried to soothe her. The father bore this new affliction with more fortitude than he showed at the announcement of his son’s death. “Where is thy daughter?” asked Sejanus. “O great Sejanus, she knows nothing!” cried Alcmaeon. “She had not yet arrived home when we left.” “We will see,” said Sejanus. He called a soldier and gave this order: “Take these prisoners and place them in a cell together, in close confinement. Go.” Scarcely had they left when he called another soldier, and ordered him to bring to the camp Gannon’s tunic. “With that destroyed,” he said to himself, “there will be no evidence against us.” He rubbed his hands and smiled at the course events were taking. He called for his litter and a small body-guard. Then, sinking back among the luxurious cushions of his litter, he commanded imperiously: “To the Palatine!” Chapter V