dus caught Cleander's eye, nodded to him and sat down. Confident and
smiling, Oleander stepped forward to the platform's railing and addressed
us.

"As Prefect of the Praetorium, I am charged with the care of the personal
safety of our Prince in his Palace, in the City and wherever he may be.
Among measures for his personal safety I rate high the maintenance of
discipline and loyalty among his frontier garrisons or their
reestablishment if impaired. By his command you are to return speedily
whence you came and tell your fellows of the complete success of your
mission. I must be sure that your report will satisfy them, that you set
out on your return fully satisfied yourselves. Are you satisfied? I ask
your senior sergeant to act as spokesman. After he has spoken I shall give
all who desire it the opportunity to speak."

Sextius Baculus at once replied that they were not satisfied while the
post of Procurator of Illyricum was held by the eldest son of Perennis, or
while he held any office, or, in fact, while he was alive.

Cleander, in a loud, far-carrying voice, apprized the entire assemblage of
what Baculus had said, and replied to him:

"From now on I am in charge of all matters pertaining to the personal
safety of Caesar, including the apprehension and execution of all traitors
and potential traitors. You may rely implicitly on me without suggestions
from anyone to take all measures which may be necessary in all such cases.
In this case you may feel assured that I have already initiated measures
which will infallibly lead to the traitor's return to Italy, without any
unsettlement of the loyalty of the Illyrian garrisons, to his being
quietly arrested and as quietly executed. Are you satisfied?"

The answer was a roar of cheers, roar after roar. When the cheering
subsided Cleander, three separate times, urged anyone who wished to speak
up. No man spoke. Then he said:

"I am commissioned by Caesar to repeat to you explicitly what he has
himself partly expressed to you twice today: his appreciation of your
fealty and good intentions, his thanks for your good order on your march
from Britain and for your having saved him from unsuspected peril, and his
gratitude. But please take note and remember that Caesar specially
commissions me to say to you that no similar deputation from Britain or
from anywhere else will ever be permitted to reach Rome, to enter Italy or
even to set out from the posts assigned to its members