is monstrous treachery. Hortensius Martius was in it up
to the neck, so was Marcus Ancyrus, the elder, and Philippus Decius and
Philario, of the imperial household.

Hun Rhavas had seen them consorting together and whispering among
themselves the day of the sale of the late censor's slaves. He was able
to state positively that the praefect of Rome was at one with the band
of traitors.

This last fact had brought the frenzied Caesar to the verge of death. He
nearly choked with the violence of his rage. He had believed in the
honesty of Taurus Antinor: had even looked on him as a lucky fetish.
This man's treachery was more infuriating than that of a thousand
others. In the madness of his wrath he would have killed Hun Rhavas with
his own hands had not the latter succeeded in hiding himself out of the
raving maniac's reach.

Had he dared, Caligula would have tortured Caius Nepos until he too gave
him evidence against Taurus Antinor; but on this point the praetorian
praefect was guarded. He had not yet made up his mind whether friendship
or enmity with the praefect of Rome would be to his own advantage. All
that he wanted at this moment was to be rid of those who had opposed him
last night for the sake of their own schemes. Therefore in measured
words he only spoke of the whisperings which he had overheard in the
vestibule of his own house, between a certain band headed by Hortensius
Martius and Marcus Ancyrus, the elder.

"During the Circensian games, O Caesar," he explained, "they hope to
raise a tumult amongst the people ... and whilst the attention of thy
faithful guard is drawn away from thy sacred person, one of the
miscreants is to plunge a dagger in thy throat----"

Here he was forced to silence by a cry like that of a slaughtered ox,
which shook the marble pillars of the hall. Caligula had thrown himself
upon the bed and was writhing there like a mad beast, biting the
coverlets, beating with clenched fists against the woodwork, while foam
dripped from the corners of his mouth.

"Tell me more--tell me----" he bellowed at last, during an interval
between two of these maniacal spasms.

The slaves all round the room were trembling with fear; Hun Rhavas,
huddled under the couch, was shaking like a leaf.

But Caius Nepos, calm and dignified, waited in silence until the
paroxysm had abated, then he quietly went on with his tale.

"There is but little else to tell, O Caesar. I came to warn thee ... for
'tis easy