Marcus Aurelius Betrayed (13 page)

“No. I wanted a few minutes of your time to ask you about an incident that occurred in Rhodes recently, perhaps while you were the Procurator there.”

The Prefect looked at him expectantly.

“I have some information about a scandal which occurred in one of the Isis temple’s there, involving a priest of Isis who was executed for his part...”

“The Paulina Affair,” interrupted Calvus. “Yes. I know it well. Being the Procurator of the island, I presided at the trial. What is it you want to know about the affair?”

“I want to know all about it.”

“Does it have to do with the attempt on my life?”

“It may.”

“Let’s walk along the rampart where it’s less crowded and I’ll tell you the story.”

They strolled to another side of the tower. Two army officers talking there saw the Prefect and moved away. Calvus and Severus had the whole side rampart to themselves. They leaned on the balustrade and peered down at the walls, courtyard, barracks, hospital and
administrative buildings of the army base. The wind had died down.

“The affair involved a superstitious and gullible Roman matron, a young man who had conceived a passion for her, and a priest in one of the Isis temples in Rhodes. Curiously, what happened here mirrored a scandal many years ago in Rome during the reign of Tiberius. Perhaps the culprits here read about it in Tacitus and were inspired by it.

“At any rate, Paulina was a woman of noble Roman ancestry and had a reputation for virtue. Though she was young and beautiful and might have led a flirtatious life, she instead led one of great modesty. Her husband was Saturninus, a member of the Senatorial Class, and he was on an Imperial Commission sent out from Rome to Rhodes to inspect public works projects. He too had an excellent character and together with Paulina they lived exemplary lives.

“As fate would have it, unfortunately, a young man named Decius Mundus, a Roman Equestrian, conceived a passion for Paulina and began to send her presents and pay visits to her when her husband wasn’t home. She rejected all his advances, but this only inflamed Mundus’ passion. He became so infatuated with Paulina that he went to her home and offered her 200,000 drachmas to enjoy her once. When she indignantly refused and ordered him from her house, he was not able to bear it and decided to starve himself to death.

“Now, Mundus had a freedwoman named Ide, who was always up to various sorts of mischief. She heard about what happened and went to Mundus while he was starving himself and encouraged him to take heart, for she had a plan whereby he could enjoy Paulina. Her
price was 50,000 drachmas. When Mundus heard the plan he agreed and Ide carried out her part. She was a member of the Isis cult and she knew Paulina as someone very much devoted to the worship of the goddess Isis. So she went to one of the Isis priests who was her friend and offered him 25,000 drachmas to help in the seduction of Paulina. For that much money, he agreed and he went to Paulina’s home.

“The priest told Paulina that he had been sent by the god Anubis, who had fallen in love with her because of her noble character and sincere religious beliefs. The god had bidden him, the priest alleged, to visit Paulina and invite her to sup and sleep with Anubis in the inner sanctuary of the temple. Paulina was flattered by the message from the god and boasted to her friends about this epiphany of the god. She also told her husband about it and after much discussion he agreed that she could accept the offer, being fully confident of his wife’s chastity and the holiness of Anubis.”

The Prefect wore an amused smile on his face as he told the story.

“So Paulina went to the temple and after dining in the inner sanctuary with the priest, they waited until the hour to go to sleep. Then the priest closed the doors of the temple, put out the lights in the inner sanctuary and left.

“When he had gone, Mundus, who had been hiding there all along, leapt out, dressed in the costume of Anubis, complete with a jackal-head mask. He proceeded to enjoy Paulina and kept her at his service throughout the night, indulging in every form of sex act he could imagine. He left the next morning, before the other priests in the temple awoke.

“Paulina went home and told her husband about the visitation. She also boasted about it to her friends. Many were skeptical, considering the nature of the incident, but others, when they considered her modesty and merit, saw no reason to disbelieve her.

“On the third day after the incident, however, Mundus and Paulina chanced to pass each other on the street and Mundus, who was in very good cheer, couldn’t resist the temptation to say something. So he told Paulina that she had saved him 200,000 drachmas, yet had not failed to be at his service. When she asked what he meant, he joked that Mundus was unconcerned about her reproaches as long as she continued to love Anubis. He then tried to make another appointment with her.

“Naturally, the woman was quite distraught. She went home and tore her clothes and finally brought herself to tell her husband, begging him to help her. Saturninus was furious and brought the matter to my attention, as Procurator. I had the matter investigated. Secundus was in charge of it, as a matter of fact. He had the priest arrested, of course. The priest confessed and implicated Ide. Then Mundus was also arrested. I found the three of them guilty and sentenced the priest and Ide to be crucified. Mundus, being of Roman
honestior
status, was entitled under the law to a lesser punishment and I sentenced him to five years banishment. And after all, his crime was out of love, not malice. I should also add that when the legal research for the trial was done, we found that case involving a Serapeum in Rome during the reign of Tiberius. I followed precedent and my verdict was the same as Tiberius’ -- exile for the young Roman man and execution for the foreigner priest. Tiberius also demolished the Serapeum
and had the statue of Isis thrown into the Tiber, but I didn’t feel called upon to do that. I just closed that Serapeum.”

The Prefect began to walk back to the side of the tower facing the plain, for his staff was calling to him. The maneuvers were about to resume.

“I hope I’ve answered your question, Judge Severus, though I’m curious about what the Paulina Affair has to do with the attempt on my life.”

“Did you know, Prefect, that Petamon had recently been a priest of Isis in Rhodes?”

“At the Serapeum where the Paulina Affair occurred?” asked the Prefect with surprise.

“I don’t know that yet. But it might provide a motive of revenge for Petamon on behalf of the Isis cult. Perhaps he felt the priest was unjustly executed by you.”

“I can hardly believe that’s the case. But Petamon never mentioned he had been in Rhodes, though, I suppose the subject never came up between us. Do you think the whole Isis cult has it in for me? Maybe I should suspend my instruction in it for a while.”

“That might be a good idea. However, perhaps you could send your litter for him once more tomorrow. I’ll talk to him about it.”

A member of the Prefect’s staff importuned him to resume his place on the ramparts so the maneuvers could continue.

“I have one more quick request,” said Severus hurriedly. “I also have unearthed some information that the antique dealer Isarion may be engaged in selling fake antiques.”

“What?” reacted the Prefect. “That’s not possible. I buy from him myself and all my pieces are genuine. I
know. I’m a connoisseur. Where’d you hear such malicious gossip. From other antique dealers?”

Severus nodded. “It may be only a rumor. But I would like to get an independent expert’s opinion of the items you’ve bought from Isarion. Just to be safe.”

“That’s ridiculous, Judge Severus. I know him well. But if it will satisfy you, I’ll have those pieces looked at.”

He turned and headed toward the center of the reviewing stand. The signal man waved a colored banner and the trumpets blared on the plain.

The great war machine flashed and roared into motion.

XX

JUDGE SEVERUS INTERVIEWS THE PRIEST OF ISIS

S
everus had given some thought about how to conduct the interview with Petamon. Should he wear a toga and be imperious -- try to overwhelm him? Or should he wear a tunic and be casual -- try to draw him out? Should it be in judicial chambers or in the gardens? Which would best strip the priest of his defenses and get him to react? Severus finally decided on a combination -- a toga and chambers for a display of authority and a friendly manner. Perhaps he would insinuate that Petamon was himself to blame for poisoning the Prefect’s cup at the orgy or, if not, that he might know who did it or suspect someone else. Then he would see what would happen, who Petamon might accuse, for instance. Or he could challenge him about the Paulina affair. In any event, he would see how the interview developed, just like gladiators were told to “take counsel of the arena”.

Petamon didn’t show any reaction when he was brought to see Judge Severus rather than the Prefect. But he became wary when Severus explained that Ganymede was innocent, that he was charged by the Emperor to conduct his own investigation into the attempt to kill the Prefect, and that he was naturally interested in interviewing everyone who attended the orgy.

“I hope you don’t think that I had anything...” countered Petamon defensively.

Severus held up an open palm. “Of course not, Petamon.” He said it with an expression on his face and a tone in his voice that made his denial deliberately unconvincing. “But my first thought was that since Secundus cruelly tortured Ganymede into confessing, it was possible that Secundus did it to cover his own crime. How does that strike you?”

“Secundus?” said Petamon weakly. Severus smiled at him. “Oh no,
kyrie
. It couldn’t have been Secundus. I’m sure of that.”

“Why?”

“Because Secundus is going to be adopted as the Prefect’s son. That couldn’t go forward if anything happened to his stepfather. He could therefore have no motive.”

“I see,” said Severus. “But do you know Secundus’ character? Perhaps he is a malicious person. Perhaps he is self-destructive. Or maybe he wants to inherit the Prefect’s money as his stepson, even before adoption. Is Secundus in debt?”

Petamon didn’t know exactly how to answer that. He took out a handkerchief and mopped his brow. He looked around as if to see what was making it suddenly
hot in the room. That he was beginning to sweat did not escape Severus’ notice.

“I know Secundus is not like that.”

“Really? How well do you know him?”

“Not really well,” answered the priest quickly. “I naturally met him because he is always with the Prefect and I formed a good opinion of him. But I haven’t talked to him much.”

“Do you have any contact at all with Secundus other than at the Prefect’s parties?”

“No. Only there.”

Evidently Petamon was not going to mention his meeting with Cupid, who had come to meet him straight from Secundus, only a few days before at “The Two Crocodiles” tavern. And Severus had no intention of letting Petamon know that he knew about it.

“What about Secundus’ reputation? Perhaps you have talked to people who know him and commented on his character?”

Petamon wiped his brow again. Beads of sweat were already standing out quite clearly on his bald head as well as his brow. He waved his arm vaguely. “I don’t really know about Secundus,
kyrie
. But he would have no motive. I know that.”

“Then if it wasn’t Secundus who tried to kill the Prefect, who was it? Who do you suggest?”

“I don’t know anything about crime,
kyrie
. I’m sure I couldn’t tell you...”

“Isarion, perhaps? Do you know him?”

“No...I...Yes, I’ve met him. I met them all, except Pudens. They are friends of the Prefect. There were
other parties I attended. They all seemed of exemplary character. I can’t answer your question.”

“Serpentinus too? Did you meet him before?”

“Serpentinus? Oh, you mean that aide of the Prefect. No. I don’t think so. Maybe I did. I’m not sure.”

“You didn’t know him in Rhodes by any chance?”

“In Rhodes?” The priest mopped his brow again and twisted the handkerchief between his hands. “I don’t think so. Maybe. I don’t know.”

Severus sensed that Petamon had been sufficiently unnerved. “Where were you during the Paulina Affair?” He asked it with a cold edge to his voice.

“I had nothing to do with that,” he snapped back.

“I didn’t say you did,” replied Severus casually. “I just asked where you were. Was that your Serapeum?”

Petamon hesitated. Severus thought he was deciding whether to lie or tell the truth. He opted for the truth.

“Yes. It was my Serapeum. And I knew the priest who was crucified. I...” He stopped. The train of Severus’ inquiry became clear to him.

“If you think,
kyrie
, that I tried to kill the Prefect because he was the judge in the Paulina Affair...” He couldn’t complete the sentence.

Severus stared at him menacingly. “The thought had occurred to me.”

“I want to see the Prefect. He can tell you this is absurd. Take me to him. I didn’t try to kill him.”

“The Prefect is too busy to see you. In fact, the Prefect will continue to be too busy to see you until this matter is cleared up.”

“This is outrageous.” Petamon was about to lose his temper.

Severus squashed him. “You’re forgetting yourself, priest. I’m the personal emissary of the Emperor of Rome. You’re a mere priest of a foreign cult. You will act accordingly. That means you will answer my questions, not characterize them. Is that clear?”

“Yes,
kyrie
,” he replied meekly.

“Now,” continued Severus, “go to that table in the corner with papyrus, pen, and inkwell and write an account of everything that happened at the Prefect’s orgy, as you remember it. I want a detailed account of what everyone did, who left their couches, who was near the Prefect’s couch. Everything. I have already spoken to the courtesans who were there and I have their statements. So yours better be the truth.

“Then, after you finish that, I want a written account of everything you know about the Paulina Affair.”