News of the illness of the "divine" had spread quickly it was evident, for new forms appeared in the gateway every moment, and through the opening of the arcade whole crowds were visible.

Some of the newly arrived, seeing that Vinicius was coming from the palace, attacked him for news; but he hurried on without answering their questions, till Petronius, who had come for news too, almost struck his breast and stopped him.
Beyond doubt Vinicius would have become enraged at sight of Petronius, and let himself do some lawless act in Caesar's palace, had it not been that when he had left Acte he was so crushed, so weighed down and exhausted, that for the moment even his innate irascibility had left him.

He pushed Petronius aside and wished to pass; but the other detained him, by force almost.
"How is the divine infant ?" asked he.
But this constraint angered Vinicius a second time, and roused his indignation in an instant.
"May Hades swallow her and all this house!" said he, gritting his teeth.
"Silence, hapless man!" said Petronius, and looking around he added hurriedly,--"If thou wish to know something of Lygia, come with me; I will tell nothing here! Come with me; I will tell my thoughts in the litter." And putting his arm around the young tribune, he conducted him from the palace as quickly as possible.

That was his main concern, for he had no news whatever; but being a man of resources, and having, in spite of his indignation of yesterday, much sympathy for Vinicius, and finally feeling responsible for all that had happened, he had undertaken something already, and when they entered the litter he said,--"I have commanded my slaves to watch at every gate.

I gave them an accurate description of the girl, and that giant who bore her from the feast at Caesar's,--for he is the man, beyond doubt, who intercepted her.