Yes, lord, what can hide before the penetration of Petronius?
Well, I did not give him money, or rather, I gave it to him, but only in spirit, in intention, which, had he been a real philosopher, should have sufficed him.

I gave it to him because I saw that such an act was indispensable and useful; for think, lord, how this act has won all the Christians at once to me, what access to them it has opened, and what confidence it has roused in them." "True," said Petronius, "and it was thy duty to do it." "For this very reason I have come to get the means to do it." Petronius turned to Vinicius,--"Give command to count out to him five thousand sestertia, but in spirit, in intention." "I will give thee a young man," said Vinicius, "who will take the sum necessary; thou wilt say to Euricius that the youth is thy slave, and thou wilt count out to the old man, in the youth's presence, this money.
Since thou hast brought important tidings, thou wilt receive the same amount for thyself.

Come for the youth and the money this evening." "Thou art a real Caesar!" said Chilo.

"Permit me, lord, to dedicate my work to thee; but permit also that this evening I come only for the money, since Euricius told me that all the boats had been unloaded, and that new ones would come from Ostia only after some days.

Peace be with you! Thus do Christians take farewell of one another.