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are struggling to pay the interest on
their loans and are seeing an increasing rate of default."
    A glance at the Emperor told Opus that
he was still not making a noticeable impression on his sovereign, so he tried to
put it as simply and as bluntly as possible.
    "Your Majesty, we are spending far
more than we are collecting in taxes. Something must be done before the state
is bankrupt!"
    Alexander's expression changed
slightly. The others around the table hoped that it indicated that he finally
comprehended what they had been saying. He leaned forward slightly.
    "So we need to bring things back
into balance? Is that what you are saying?"
    The treasury officials allowed
themselves a small smile as they nodded. Progress they believed had been made.
    "Well then, if you cannot reduce
expenditure, as you claimed in previous meetings, you must increase
taxes." Alexander sat back in his chair again with a satisfied look on his
face.
    The smiles vanished from the faces
around the table.
    "That is one of the options your
Majesty," said Opus, "but what is really needed is to get the economy
growing and thus increase the tax base."
    "Well do that too!" Alexander
was getting bored now and was losing patience. "What do I have a bunch of
highly paid officials for!"
    "The treasury cannot make economic
policy," explained Opus, not for the first time. "The assembly
determines the policy and passes the various laws, which the senate reviews and
either approves or rejects. What your Majesty needs to do is to get the
government parties in the assembly to pass a series of laws which will
stimulate the economy and balance the treasury accounts."
    Alexander sat staring at the men seated
around him for a few minutes, drumming his fingers on the table. Finally he
called for the major-domo who had been waiting quietly by the doors.
    "Petrus, please arrange for the
chief minister and all the leaders of the political parties in the assembly and
the senate to meet here sometime next week. If we are lucky we may get most of
them before they leave for the Christmas recess."
    The major-domo bowed and retired from
the room. Alexander stared coldly at Opus.
    "Now are you happy?"
    "A very wise move, your
Majesty" he replied, bowing his head slightly.
    Alexander got up without warning, and
the men from the Treasury had to quickly do the same. The Emperor left the room
leaving Opus and the others standing and bowing until the Praetorians closed
the door behind him. They then remained standing in silence for a few moments
looking around at each other, concern clearly etched on their faces. They had
got the Emperor to act, but no one had any confidence in his ability to provide
the leadership that the Empire needed at this time.
     
     

Chapter
Two
     
     
    5 th December1919
    Milan,
Italia
     
    Cornelius Petronius wrapped his heavy
cloak tightly around him for warmth as he made his way up the private road that
led to his parents’ villa. It was not a particularly cold evening but the
northerly wind off the Alps chilled him to the bone and underneath his old army
cloak he only had on his best toga. Not the most suitable clothing for this
time of year, but this dinner was a special occasion and it was for his little
brother, and his father was a great one for tradition. So he pulled the cloak
even tighter around his body and looked forward to the warm interior of his
parents’ home.
    It was nearly three miles from his
apartment to the villa, and most people would have ridden, hired someone to
take them or even driven in one of the new motor carriages if they had one. But
Cornelius did not have a horse, and was not a particularly enthusiastic rider
anyway, and although he was considering the purchase of a motor carriage he had
not done so yet. However the main reason why Cornelius walked the distance was
that he really enjoyed walking. It was during his time in the imperial army
that Cornelius had discovered his love of walking and had used his leave to
explore