Chapter 14

‘Indeed! He’s one of my father’s closest friends. How did you make his acquaintance?’

Voldi told him briefly, and was privately pleased to learn of this connection between the Proconsul and the Prefect. It might be to his advantage, some time, if he got into a scrape.

The long and tiresome winter finally blew itself out and spring came on. Voldi was beside himself with impatience to contrive some way of seeing Fara. She would be expecting him now and if he did not soon appear she would surely conclude that he had given her up and returned to Arabia.

One sunny afternoon the news was circulated in the lobbies of The Agrippa that The Augusta had been sighted. Everybody not otherwise engaged had hurried to the docks to watch the Emperor’s beautiful ship come in. The main point of interest would be the disembarkation of the Tetrarch and his retinue and the setting forth of their garish parade for Jerusalem.

Voldi felt that this was something worth seeing. When he joined the huge crowd at the wharf, The Augusta had already docked and the important passengers were leaving the ship, the Tetrarch surrounded by an unusually large company of fellow-travellers who—according to the low-voiced chatter of spectators—had come from Rome to spend the summer.

Felix had failed to put in an appearance at The Domus Agrippa today. Voldi saw him now, sauntering in his direction; but, when he approached, he gave no sign of recognition. As Felix passed, almost brushing sleeves with Voldi, he muttered, ‘This is no place for you. Better get out of here!’

The brusque command annoyed Voldi. He didn’t like the idea of slinking away—like a dog that had been ordered home. He stood his ground. The Romans loved to boss people around: Felix too was learning to crow, the young cockerel! Voldi was sore; but so fascinated by the flamboyant pageantry on the wharf that he gave the spectacle his full attention. The Tetrarch’s circus was moving away now and the crowd was disintegrating. As Voldi slowly advanced with the throng, two tall Praetorian Guards fell into step on either side of him, and the elder of them said quietly, ‘Proceed, please, to your room at The Agrippa, and remain there until the Prefect gives you your freedom.’

‘May I ask what I have done?’ demanded Voldi testily.

‘Nothing, sir,’ replied the Guard, ‘but the Prefect wants you to be kept under strict observance until Tetrarch Antipas has left the city.’