In short, from captain of the guard, suddenly I had become a great man in Constantinople, one with whom even Stauracius and others like him would have to reckon, especially as his signature appeared upon the commission beneath that of the Empress.
Whilst I was wondering what I should do next, a trumpet blew upon the ramparts, and a Northman of my company entered, saluted and said that I was summoned.

I went out, and there before me stood a dazzling band that bowed humbly to me, whom yesterday they would have passed without notice.

Their captain, a smooth-faced Greek, came forward, and, addressing me as "General," said the imperial orders were that he was to escort me to the State jail.
"For what purpose ?" I asked, since it came to my mind that Irene might have changed her fancy and issued another kind of commission.
"As its General and Governor, Illustrious," he replied.
"Then I will lead," I answered, "do you follow behind me." Thus that vision ends.
In the next I see myself dwelling in some stately apartments that formed the antechambers to the great prison.

This prison, which was situated not far from the Forum of Constantine, covered a large area of ground, which included a garden where the prisoners were allowed to walk.

It was surrounded by a double wall, with an outer and an inner moat, the outer dry, and the inner filled with water.