After the beast was securely penned up I was riding homewards more than a little tired, rumpled and heated and very eager for a bath.
As we approached my villa we saw a runner coming up the road, a big Nubian in a fantastic livery which when he reached us turned out to be entirely unknown to me.

My grooms were just taking our horses.

The grinning black, not a bit out of breath after his long run, saluted and addressed me.
"My master has sent me ahead to say he is coming to visit you." "Who is your master ?" I asked.
"My master," he said, still grinning goodnaturedly, "enjoined me not to tell you who he is." I turned to Agathemer.
"What do you make of this ?" I asked.
"There is but one man in Italy," he replied, "who is likely to send you such a message, and his name is on the tip of your tongue." "And on the tip of yours, I'll wager," said I."Both together now!" I raised my finger and counted.
"One! Two! Three!" Both together we uttered: "Opsitius Tanno!" There was no variation in the Nubian's non-committal grin.

We went up the steps and stood by the balustrade of the terrace, where it commanded a good view of the valley.

We could see a party approaching, a mounted intendant in advance, a litter, extra bearers and runners and several baggage mules.
"Nobody but Tanno would send me such a message," I said to Agathemer.
"No one else," he agreed, "but I should be no more surprised to see the Emperor himself in this part of the world." "One of his wild whims," I conjectured.