Vinicius, grasping the edge of the litter and looking him straight in the eyes, said with a lowered voice,—
"Didst thou betray Lygia?"
"Colossus of Memnon!" cried Chilo, with fear.
But there was no threat in the eyes of Vinicius; hence the old Greek's alarm vanished quickly. He remembered that he was under the protection of Tigellinus and of Caesar himself,—that is, of a power before which everything trembled,—that he was surrounded by sturdy slaves, and that Vinicius stood before him unarmed, with an emaciated face and body bent by suffering.