Altogether I have no time for
trifles.
"But I do not reckon your case as a trifle, though the safety of the
Republic by no means hinges on it. And I am more interested in you than in
any one individual outside of my family and connections. I have never
heard of a man brought so near death, so ruined, but for the singular
favor of the gods so utterly and so hopelessly ruined, subjected to such
dangers and miseries, so baselessly, by such malevolent misrepresentations
and fabrications. You deserve to be recompensed. You shall be. And besides
the merits of your case I am curious about you.
"You must be curious yourself.
"When I foresaw that I was likely to be acclaimed Emperor by my soldiers
and welcomed by the Senate as Prince of the Republic, I set on foot
various measures certain to benefit the Commonwealth and the Empire.
Especially I made an effort to abolish or at least curb the banditry,
brigandage and outlawry which corrupts the entire rural population of
Italy and is a national disgrace. I was successful in so far as that my
emissaries broke up most of the bands of outlaws and captured many of
them, particularly the most famous of all, known as the King of the
Highwaymen.
"I had made sure to have secret agents watching all my emissaries, on
whatever errand I had sent them.
Pages:
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880