A moment later several of the servants came splashing over the little stream, and found Cornelia alone beside the great cypress, pale and trembling and sobbing.

Drusus caught one last sight of her, surrounded by the torches of the pursuers.

Then he struck off into the grove, and thanks to his perfect local knowledge easily avoided meeting Lentulus or his slaves.

Lentulus he would gladly have confronted alone.

What would have followed, the athletic young man could only surmise grimly; but he was unarmed, and for Cornelia's sake he must take no risks.
Close to the confines of his own land he met the Mamerci, father and son, and several slaves and freedmen, all armed and anxious to know whether the din that had been raised over at the Lentulan villa betokened any danger to their young master.
Drusus satisfied them that he had suffered no injury.