The story of the leopard had been noised about and the husbands of the ladies concerned every one came to salute me at my morning reception and to thank me for my miraculous intervention, as they called it.

As six of the eight were senators my atrium had an aspect seldom seen at the reception of a man of equestrian rank.
At the Palace I found the tale of the leopard had reached the ears of the Emperor.

He congratulated me, saying: "You are not only a good fighter, Hedulio, but also incredibly bold and marvellously favored by the gods." Tanno was at the Palace to say farewell for the summer, as he was off for Baiae to enjoy the scenery and sea-breezes.
"I envy you," said Commodus.

"I must remain, here many days yet to get rid of the most pressing matters on my crowded files of official papers." After the Palace levee was over I went to Vedia's mansion and tried to see her, but was rebuffed, the porter declaring that, by her physician's orders, she was denying herself to all visitors.
At home I found Agathemer still suffering terribly, but without fever, with no sign of proud flesh anywhere on his flayed back and not only entirely able to talk to me but eager to do so.

We had a long talk on the entire subject of our peculiar relations as a master and slave who were more like brothers.