of the loot. Enough to
convict 'em and clear you!"

As we loosed our embrace I looked at the approaching magistrate.

He was Flavius Clemens!

Before the shock of recognizing him had passed I forgot him entirely.

For I had recognized the two prisoners.

Though I had seen them but once and that by moonlight, and that eight
years before, I recognized the two drunken robbers who had helped us to
our couriers' equipment and sent us off galloping to Marseilles.

Indubitably they were Carex and Junco!

While still numb with amazement I felt upon me the cold gaze of Flavius
Clemens. I looked him full in the face. He was no less astonished than I
and I could read in his expression both amazement and suspicion. I was
acutely aware that Ravillanus, by having my hair and beard clipped, had
made me readily recognizable to anyone and everyone who had known me in
the days of my prosperity. I was even more acutely aware of the keen
intuition which every lover feels toward any actual or potential rival. I
dreaded that Clemens not only recognized me for myself, but had a
glimmering inkling as to why his suit of Vedia had twice failed. But he
said nothing except:

"You are cleared of every imputation in connection with the murder of
Pompeianus Falco. You are free to go where you please."

Agathemer took off his robe, and threw it around me and led me to a
postern. In the vaulted corridor we were met by Tanno, who embraced me and
congratulated me, and Galen, who also embraced me and felicitated me.
Tanno said:

"Vedia kept up till Agathemer nabbed the criminals, then she fainted; but
she declares the faint relieved her and that she is entirely herself."

In one of the cells under the hollow of the amphitheater I was given
strong wine, all I wanted, and then washed with warm water already
prepared for me, and afterwards thoroughly massaged. Then I was clad in
garments of my own.

"I feel like myself," I remarked.

Just then Flavius Clemens entered, his expression entirely too
intelligible for me. Looking me full in the eyes he said:

"You have been passing as an art-amateur of Greek ancestry, under the name
of Phorbas, with the status of a slave. Before that you were among the
helpers at the Choragium, held as a slave belonging to the _fiscus_, by
the name of Festus. It seems to me that you are no Greek, nor of Greek
blood, even to the smallest degree, I take you for a full-blooded Roman. I
think I recognize you. Are you