The Alexandrian Embassy Read Online Free

wherever he goes.’
    â€˜Well, that’s for sure. Why doesn’t someone just bundle him onto a ship and send him back to Alexandria?’
    â€˜Because, after keeping him waiting, Caligula has decided that he will receive him and his embassy and is looking forward to it; which is why no one wants to be responsible for disappointing our divine Emperor by allowing Philo to get himself killed. Apparently Caligula’s curious as to why the Jews don’t accept him as a god.’
    Magnus scowled. ‘Well, they don’t accept anything as a god. That’s what the Greeks used as the reason for the riots: they didn’t see why the Jews should have equal status with them if they weren’t going to behave like equal citizens and make a sacrifice to the Emperor when they took their annual oath of allegiance.’
    â€˜Which is, I believe, the very question that Caligula wants to put to Philo: why should the Jews have equal status if they don’t behave like everyone else in the Empire?’
    â€˜Tricky.’
    â€˜Yes, so just make sure that he’s kept alive to answer it. Caligula is on his way back from Antium and Vespasian is accompanying him; they should be back in a day or so as Caligula’s keen to get his campaign in Germania under way.’
    Magnus grunted; he did not look enamoured of the commission. ‘If you say so, sir.’
    â€˜I don’t
say
so; it’s just a small favour that I’m asking.’
    â€˜And in return, sir?’ Magnus asked as they went through a colonnade that opened out into the Forum built by Augustus.
    Gaius looked askance at his client and raised a knowing, plucked eyebrow. ‘Yes?’
    â€˜Have you heard of a man named Quintus Tullius Tatianus?’
    â€˜An equestrian from an unfashionable branch of the Tullian
gens
?’
    â€˜I think so.’
    â€˜He who can get hold of any weapon you care to name and get it through the city gates?’
    Magnus hid his surprise at a senator being aware of the existence of such a shady figure. ‘That’s the one; what do you know of him?’
    â€˜Just that, there’s nothing he can’t get hold of and smuggle into the city for the right price: Scythian composite bows, Thracian rhompheroi, Rhodian staff-slings and the correct lead shot, throwing axes from the barbarian North, Jewish sicari daggers, you name it and he can get it. Oh, and he only ever does business at his house and on his own terms. Why do you ask?’
    â€˜I was going to … well … enlighten you, if you take my meaning?’
    â€˜He’s upset you so you were going to report his illegal enterpriseto me in the hopes that I would take it to the Urban Prefect or some such thing?’
    Magnus was disappointed. ‘But you already know what everyone else knows?’
    â€˜If by “everyone else” you mean the criminal underbelly of Rome who seem to have an insatiable demand for novel ways of despatching one another, then yes.’
    Magnus thought for a few moments as Gaius hailed other senators also making their way through the Forum of Augustus. ‘But how come you know about him as well?’ Magnus asked once he had Gaius’ attention again.
    â€˜Anyone who has been a praetor knows about him. He’s well known to all of us who’ve had a responsibility for law and order in Rome.’
    â€˜And yet nothing’s been done about him?’
    â€˜No, we leave him alone.’
    Magnus could not conceal a look of astonishment. ‘You mean the authorities let him continue in business.’
    â€˜Naturally. We never touch him, which has led him to become so complacent that he thinks that he can trade openly from his own study.’
    Magnus’ astonishment morphed into incredulity. ‘The authorities just let him bring weapons into the city with impunity?’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Now, Magnus,’ Gaius said with a