Mount and order your bearers to take your empty litter
home. Follow the Praenestine Highroad till it meets the _Via
Labicana_. Then take the first crossroad to the Highroad to Tibur.
From Tibur press on to Carseoli. Prom there return to Villa Andivia as
you judge best. Provide for yourself thereafter as best you may.
"Farewell."
I recognized Vedia's handwriting. I trusted her implicitly. I was far more
elated at her concern for me than I was depressed at my impending ruin.
Somehow the fact that she had taken the trouble not only to warn me, but
to think out for me all the details of a plan of at least temporary
escape, the inference that she hoped, hoped against hope, that I might be
somehow saved, heartened me amazingly; so that I was rather inspirited at
the prospect of adventure than daunted by the shadow of inescapable doom.
I gathered myself together, determined to take as much advantage as
possible of Vedia's warning, and of the respite it afforded me. I resolved
to follow her suggestions. I had set out for the Palace unusually early. I
had plenty of time. I ordered my bearers to carry me through the heart of
the City down the whole length of the _Vicus Tuscus_ to the meat market.
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