Almo had completely vanished.

When Aurelius, passing through Rome on his way from the
Rhine frontier to Syria, was in his capital for a brief period,
Brinnaria had an audience with him.

"Daughter!" he said, "it is all my fault. I should have given
Grittonius explicit injunctions about the boy. But the assaults
of the Marcomanni were particularly furious just at that time;
I was feverishly hurrying from point to point along the frontier;
I accepted the resignation of Pennasius; by letter. I appointed
Grittonius by letter; I assumed that Grittonius would have
sense; I assumed that Pennasius would impart to him his secret
instructions. I erred by inadvertence; I should have set a special
watch on the boy. But I never thought of it. He was doing so well
and he seemed so interested in his work. He was wonderfully
fitted for frontier duty along the desert. I was watching him
with keen interest; each report of him gave me greater pleasure.
I do not hesitate to tell you that I had him in my mind's eye to
command this very expedition which I must now command
myself, as there is no other man in the Empire fit to take
charge of it.

"Is it not a shame that a man whom the Empire needs, who
had before him so splendid an opportunity, who was fitting
himself for so brilliant a career, should throw it all away from
mere perversity? Yet I am not wrathful against him; I see
many reasons for sympathizing with him.

"Rigid and unflinching celibacy affects different individuals