He turned out to be young Lollius
Corbulo, whom I had not set eyes on until he came to know me as Phorbas,
for he was an art amateur of high standing, considering his youth.
I never have discovered how much he was influenced by his natural
kindliness of disposition, how much by personal regard for me, how much by
Tanno, acting for himself and Vedia, whether he had been bribed or not.
He, when I questioned him in after years, passed it off with a smile
saying that anyone would accept a gift on condition of doing what he meant
to do uninfluenced, that no one needed a gift to make him do the right
thing. From Agathemer, Tanno and Vedia I have never been able to extract
any admissions as to their activities in my behalf. Anyhow Corbulo gave a
demonstration of the great latitude which is permitted both by law and
custom to such a magistrate in such a case. He ordered my shackles
removed, and, while they were being filed through, sent off three of his
apparitors in charge of Dromo to fetch some of my own garments from my
apartments in Falco's house.
He went about his investigation like a fair-minded man who meant to favor
no one and to ferret out the exact truth.
Corbulo in his full senatorial attire, the broad crimson stripe more
conspicuous than the white of his toga, sat in his chair at the center of
the apse of the basilica, his apparitors behind him.
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