Perhaps the very fact that Agias had been the victim of Valeria, and the high contempt in which the young Drusian held his divorced stepmother, made him instinctively take the outraged boy's part.
"See here," began Drusus, "were you to be whipped by orders of Calatinus ?" "No," moaned Agias; "Valeria gave the orders.

My master was out." "Ha!" remarked Drusus to his aunt, "won't the good man be pleased to know how his wife has killed a valuable slave in one of her tantrums ?" Then aloud.

"If I can buy you of Calatinus, and give you to the Lady Cornelia, niece of Lentulus, the consul-elect, will you serve her faithfully, will you make her wish the law of your life ?" "I will die for her!" cried Agias, his despair mingled with a ray of hope.
"Where is your master ?" "At the Forum, I think, soliciting votes," replied the boy.
"Well then, follow me," said Drusus, "our road leads back to the Forum.

We may meet him.

If I can arrange with him, your executioners have nothing to fear from Valeria.