He did well. As Phorbas I heard of you
first, when it was represented to me that you had murdered your late
master and been cleared by that indulgent humanitarian, Lollius Corbulo;
that the case was a most flagrant miscarriage of justice and that such
slackness would breed a crop of such murders unless temptation was
counteracted by severity. I then directed Cassius Ravillanus to deal with
you, for I trusted him.
"When, in the arena of the Colosseum, I saw the savage, ravening beasts
not only spare you but fawn on you, I felt sure that you had been falsely
convicted, that you were innocent and that the gods had intervened to save
you. Later, when I heard the cries of 'Festus' and they were explained to
me, I was doubly incensed against you. That no beast would touch you, even
when bound and your face covered, convinced me of your complete innocence.
"Thereupon, after I had ordered you released, I had turned my attention
again to the spectacle of the games in the arena, promising myself an
interview with you later, for I was intensely curious about you. But, that
very day, before dark, Flavius Clemens craved a brief private audience
with me and informed me that he had recognized you as Andivius Hedulio and
that you had confessed your identity.
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