Free The Alexandrian Embassy by Robert Fabbri

where did they take it?’ Magnus asked as they entered a huge hall at the heart of the villa.
    â€˜As it happens, I had them deliver it to my house.’
    Magnus looked at Vespasian, astounded.
    â€˜It’s too cold in here, Callistus; have all the windows filled with glass pebbles so the light can still get in.’ Caligula moved onto the next room as Philo continued his monologue on all aspects of Jewish law, unattended by the imperial ear.
    â€˜How did you manage to do that?’ Magnus asked once he had digested the information.
    â€˜In very much the same way as Lentullus hoisted responsibility for Philo’s embassy, when the Emperor took an interest in it, onto Corbulo’s shoulders and then he onto mine so that any mistake could be construed as my fault, not theirs.’
    â€˜Ah! You told Lentullus that the Emperor was involved.’
    â€˜Yes; I said the Emperor had heard a rumour, as he came up the Appian Way, that something was to be smuggled into the cityusing his arrival at the Capena Gate as a diversion and he had asked me to look into it. Lentullus, naturally, couldn’t pass on all responsibility to me fast enough.’
    â€˜I’m sure.’
    â€˜So I used the centurion who had let it through the gate to search Sempronius’ place, explaining to him that since he knew what it looked like, having been bribed to let it through the gate, it would make it much easier for him to find it again before forgetting he had ever heard of it in the first place.’
    â€˜Very sensible.’
    â€˜What are you saying?’ Caligula asked abruptly, bringing Philo’s speech to a sudden halt.
    â€˜I was saying, Princeps—’
    â€˜Bring my father’s pictures that he brought back from Syria and install them in here,’ Caligula said, his attention now on the small, intimate library he had just entered rather than on Philo.
    â€˜Yes, Divine Gaius,’
    Callistus said, making another note. Caligula contemplated the ceiling for a few moments before turning to Vespasian. ‘These Jews don’t appear to me to be wicked so much as unfortunate or foolish, in not believing that I have been endowed with the nature of God.’
    â€˜Indeed, Divine Gaius,’ Vespasian replied, the solemnity of his voice matching his expression.
    â€˜Princeps, may we now put our case?’ Philo asked.
    â€˜Case? What do you think you’ve been doing for the last half an hour? You’ve put your case to me and I’ve decided that you are misguided in your attitude to my divinity and not malicious and therefore can be allowed to live. You may go.’ He turned on his heel and headed off with Callistus padding behind him leaving Philo straining, with every fibre of his being, to swallow his view on how he had just been treated until Caligula was out of earshot.
    â€˜Gentlemen,’ Vespasian said, amusement on his face, ‘it’s time to go home now. We’ll take you to Ostia tomorrow to find passage back.’
    â€˜It’s an outrage!’ Philo finally burst out.
    â€˜If you mean your still being alive, Philo, then you may find some that would agree with you. However, if I were you I wouldget on a ship back to Alexandria and thank your god that you caught the Emperor in a merciful mood.’
    â€˜But we were here to complain about our ill-treatment.’
    â€˜No, Philo; you were here to defend your ill-treatment of the Emperor and in his magnanimity he forgave you.’ He steered Philo around; the rest of the Jewish embassy followed to the jeers of the victorious Greeks.
    â€˜About that Scorpion,’ Magnus said as they retraced their steps.
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Would you happen to know exactly where it is in your house?’
    â€˜No,’ Vespasian said unhelpfully.
    â€˜Oh.’
    â€˜But I can tell you that at the fourth hour of the night it will be on a wagon in the yard behind my house, totally