Read Online The Alexandrian Embassy by Robert Fabbri - Free Book Online Page B

into a high-ceilinged room, bare apart from a few faded upholstered couches and a couple of statues, one of Augustus, the other, Agrippa. One look at the second statue caused Caligula to shriek: ‘Get rid of it! And have the place scoured for any more likenesses of that … that …’
    â€˜He doesn’t like to be reminded of his grandfather,’ Vespasian whispered to Magnus. ‘He came from an unknown family.’
    â€˜And, Callistus, have my statue replace it but make sure that it’s bigger than Augustus. The room needs to be lavishly furnished in the …’ Caligula stopped mid-sentence and looked back at thedoor in which Philo stood with the bobbing heads of Jews and Greeks alike trying to see over his shoulders. ‘How many?’
    Philo looked puzzled. ‘How many what, Princeps?’
    â€˜How many times have you sacrificed?’
    â€˜Three, Lord Gaius: once on your accession, once when you recovered from your illness, and a third time, recently, in hope of your victory over the Germans.’
    â€˜Greek style, Callistus,’ Caligula said, barrelling towards the door and causing Philo and all those jammed within it to retreat in disarray. Callistus, Vespasian and Magnus followed him through, further disordering the two delegations. ‘Grant that all this is true,’ Caligula said, waving a pointed finger in the air as he disappeared on down the corridor, ‘and that you did sacrifice, you sacrificed to another god and not to me.’
    â€˜But we sacrificed on your behalf, Princeps,’ Philo called from within the throng barging each other to keep pace with the Emperor.
    â€˜What good is that to me?’ Caligula stopped suddenly and swung round, causing both delegations, now hopelessly mixed together, to halt as if they had slammed into an invisible wall. ‘You sacrifice to me, not for my sake!’ He spun away and the Greek delegation cheered a point well made whilst Philo and the rest of the Jews looked downcast and rubbed their beards.
    â€˜They’d have done better staying home in Alexandria,’ Magnus observed as he and Vespasian followed Caligula into the next room.
    â€˜Not enough red,’ Caligula said and doubled back causing Magnus and Vespasian to part for him.
    Callistus scribbled a note as he chased his master out.
    â€˜Philo was under the misapprehension that the Emperor had the same grasp of justice as a learned Jew would,’ Vespasian muttered. ‘I would guess that his reaction to the reality would be …’
    â€˜Outrage?’ Magnus suggested. Vespasian tilted his head indicating agreement with Magnus’ assessment.
    â€˜Why won’t you eat pork?’ Caligula asked, much to the vocal amusement of the Greeks.
    Philo’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times. ‘Er, well, Princeps, different nations have different laws; there are things of which the use is forbidden to both us and our adversaries.’
    â€˜Ha! That’s true,’ Caligula said, causing the Greek mirth to subside.
    Philo pressed his point. ‘There are many people who don’t eat lamb, which is the most tender of all meats.’
    Caligula laughed. ‘They are quite right for it’s not at all nice.’
    Philo beamed with relief that he had finally got the Emperor to accept a point.
    â€˜Perhaps you’re not so backward,’ Caligula mused. ‘What principles of justice do you recognise in your constitution?’
    â€˜So did they find the Scorpion?’ Magnus asked as Philo launched into an in-depth analysis of Jewish law, failing dismally to capture the Emperor’s attention.
    â€˜They did,’ Vespasian replied with a half-smile. ‘Sempronius is currently languishing at the Urban Prefect’s pleasure whilst he decides whether to condemn him to the arena as he deserves.’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜And they took the Scorpion away.’
    â€˜Obviously. But