Chapter 17

The Prefect demanded to know the story, and Malus told him of the Tetrarch’s revolting crime: beheading a harmless fanatic to entertain a dinner party; having the bloody head brought to the table on a platter.

Sergius grew purple with indignation as the sordid tale unfolded. Never having had the slightest respect for this pompous Romanized Jew, the loathsome story disgusted him almost to the point of nausea. The Prefect had had men beheaded, but not to entertain anybody!

‘Gossip has it,’ went on Malus, ‘that the idea was Herodias’.’

‘It would be!’ growled Sergius. After smouldering in his anger for a while, he suddenly blurted out, ‘I’ve had quite enough of that low-lived Tetrarch! There’ll be no pomp and ceremony wasted on him, this time. I don’t intend to see him off. And you needn’t make any ado about protecting him. If he asks to see me, tell him I’m sick abed—with leprosy!…And, Malus, go down to the prison and turn the Arabian loose. Take him his horse. Tell him he is free to go wherever he likes!’

They had drawn up before the Praetorium now, and were stepping out of the chariot. Felix came running up and warmly embraced his father.

‘Greetings, my son!’ said Sergius. ‘I am glad to see you! Malus tells me you have been a good boy!’

‘Thanks, Malus!’ said Felix so fervently that his shrewd old father grinned.

The three of them fell into step together and moved toward the marble steps leading to the bronze doors of the Praetorium. Sergius halted there and regarded his son so soberly that he winced. Good old Malus, reflected Felix, had let him down, after all.

‘My boy,’ said the Prefect; and Felix’s face fell, for whenever his parent addressed him as ‘My boy,’ you wanted to look out. There would be bad news presently.

‘My boy, I assume that in my absence you have continued your friendship with that rash young Arabian.’

‘Yes, father,’ admitted Felix contritely. ‘I have been seeing him—almost every day.’

‘Quite right!’ declared the Prefect. ‘Men should be loyal to their friends, especially when they are in trouble.’

Felix gave a quick intake of breath and blinked a few times before he gave a tentative smile of relief.

‘I have just ordered Captain Malus to set this chap free,’ continued Sergius. ‘But Malus is much too busy to attend to it today. Perhaps you would like to inform your friend that he is at liberty to go his way, in any direction that suits his fancy.’ He brought out a stylus, scribbled a note to the jailor, and handed it to his son.