Where the illuminations were completed, attempts of another kind were
being made to work upon the mood of the people; nimble-tongued fellows--
some in the service of Macrinus and some in that of the anxious senate--
were distributing handkerchiefs to wave on Caesar's approach, or flowers
to strew in his path. More than one, who was known for a malcontent,
found a gold coin in his hand, with the image of the monarch he was
expected to hail; and on the way by which Caesar was to come many of
those who awaited him wore the caracalla. These were for the most part
bribed, and their acclamations were to mollify the tyrant's mood.

As soon as the prefect had disappeared within the building, the
praetorian ranks fell out again. It was lucky that among them were
several Alexandrians, besides the centurion Martialis, who had not long
been absent from their native town; for without them much would have
remained incomprehensible. The strangest thing to foreign eyes was a
stately though undecorated harmamaxa, out of which stepped first a
handsome wreathed youth, then a matron of middle age, and at last an
elegantly dressed girl, whose rare beauty made even Martialis--who rarely
noticed women--exclaim, "Now, she is to my taste the sweetest-thing of
all."

But there must have been something very remarkable about these three; for
when they appeared the crowd broke out at first in loud shouts and
outcries, which soon turned to acclamations and welcome, though through
it all shrill whistles and hisses were heard.

"Caesar's new mistress, the daughter of a gemcutter!" the Alexandrian
muttered to his comrades. That handsome boy is her brother, no doubt.
He is said to be a mean sycophant, a spy paid by Caesar."