“I and Cadmus—­” he said, and then hesitated.

“What?”

“—­are faithful, no matter what happens.”

Scylax stood erect with closed lips.  Sextus broke the seal, merely glancing at Pertinax, taking permission for granted.  He frowned as he read, bit his lip, his face growing crimson and white alternately.  When he had mastered himself he handed the letter to Pertinax.

“I always supposed you protected my father,” he said, struggling to appear calm.  But his eyes gave the story away—­grieved, mortified, indignant.  Scylax offered him his arm to lean on.  Norbanus, setting both hands on his shoulders from behind, obliged him to sit down.

“Calm!” Norbanus whispered, “Calm!  Your friends are your friends.  What has happened?”

Pertinax read the letter and passed it to Cornificia, then paced the floor with hands behind him.

“Is that fellow to be trusted?” he asked with a jerk of his head toward Scylax.  He seemed nearly as upset as Sextus was.

Sextus nodded, not trusting himself to speak, knowing that if he did he would insult a man who might be guiltless in spite of appearances.

“Commodus commanded me to visit Antioch, as he said, for a rest,” said Pertinax.  “The public excuse was, that I should look into the possibility of holding the Olympic games here.  Strangely enough, I suspected nothing.  He has been flatteringly friendly of late.  Those whom I requested him to spare, he spared, even though their names were on his proscription list and I had not better excuse than that they had done no wrong!  The day before I left I brought a list to him of names that I commended to his favor—­your father’s name among them, Sextus.”

Pertinax turned his back again and strode toward the window, where he stood like a statue framed in the luminous gloom.  The only part of him that moved was his long fingers, weaving together behind him until the knuckles cracked.

Cornificia, subduing her contralto voice, read the letter aloud: 

“To Nimius Secundus Sextus, son of Galienus Maximus, the freedman Rufus Glabrio sends humble greeting.

“May the gods give solace and preserve you.  Notwithstanding all your noble father’s piety—­his respect for elders and superiors—­he was accused of treason and of blasphemy toward the emperor, by whose orders he was seized yesterday and beheaded the same day.  The estates have already been seized.  It is said they will be sold to Asinus Sejanus, who is probably the source of the accusation against your father.

“I and three other freedmen made our escape and will attempt to reach Tarentum, where we will await instructions from you.  Titus, the son of the freedman Paulinus, will convey this letter to Brundisium and thence by boat to Dyrrachium, whence he will send it by post in the charge of a Jew whom he says he can trust.

“It is a certainty that orders will go forth to seize yourself, since the estates in Antioch are known to be of great value.  Therefore, we your true friends and devoted servants, urge you to make all speed in escaping.  Stay not to make provision for yourself, but travel without encumbrances.  Hide!  Hasten!