Now they were passing the door of the palace. In the outer hall Saturius
met them and motioned to the slaves to stand back.
"So you have them," said Caleb, eagerly.
"Yes, or to be exact, one of them. The lady has vanished."
Caleb staggered back a pace.
"Vanished! Where?"
"I wish that I could tell you. I thought that perhaps you knew. At
least we found Marcus alone in his house, which he was about to leave,
apparently to follow Titus. But come, the court awaits you."
"If she has gone, why should I come?" said Caleb, hanging back.
"I really don't know, but you must. Here, slaves, escort this witness."
Then seeing that it was too late to change his mind, Caleb waved them
back and followed Saturius. Presently they entered an inner hall, lofty,
but not large. At the head of it, clad in the purple robes of his royal
house, sat Domitian in a chair, while to his right and left were narrow
tables, at which were gathered five or six Roman officers, those of
Domitian's own bodyguard, bare-headed, but arrayed in their mail. Also
there were two scribes with their tablets, a man dressed in a lawyer's
robe, who seemed to fill the office of prosecutor, and some soldiers on
guard.
When Caleb entered, Domitian, who, notwithstanding his youthful,
ruddy countenance, looked in a very evil mood, was engaged in talking
earnestly to the lawyer.
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