QUO VADIS
43
passed, however, and no news came. Only in the evening was the hammer heard on the gate.
After a while a slave entered ami handed Aulus a letter. The old general, though he liked to show command over himself, took it with a somewhat trembling hand, and began to read as hastily as if it were a question of his whole house.
All at once his face darkened, as if a shadow from a passing cloud had fallen on it.
"Read," said he, turning to Pomponia.
Poinponia took the letter and read as follows:
"Marcus Vinicius to Aulus Plautius greeting. What has happened, has happened by the will of Cæsar, before which incline your heads, as I and Petronius incline ours."
A long silence followed.
