Whether he would be admitted at Petronilla's door was quite uncertain; in any case, it would serve no purpose to go thither with a band of attendants, for the Anician house was sure to be strongly guarded.

All he could do was to present himself in the hope of seeing Petronilla, and take his chance of learning something from her when they stood face to face.
On horseback he went down by the Clivus Scauri, followed the road between the Circus Maximus and the Aventine, crossed the river by the Aemilian bridge (the nearer bridge of Probus was falling into ruins), and then turned to the left.

This part of the transtiberine district was inhabited by poor folk.

Something unusual seemed to have happened among them just now: groups stood about in eager talk, and a little further on, in front of a church, a noisy crowd was assembled, with soldiers among them.

Having made inquiry, Felix explained the disturbance to his master.