Many of the servants had gone with Valeria, and the others readily agreed to preserve secrecy in a matter in which their former fellow-slave and favourite had so much at stake.

So the day passed, and no one came to disturb her; and just as the shadows were falling Agias knocked at the garden gate.
"_St!_" were his words, "I have hired a gig which will carry us both.
Pratinas is loose and has been raising heaven and earth to get at us.
There is a crier going the rounds of the Forum offering a thousand sesterces for the return of Artemisia.

Pratinas has gone before the _triumviri capitales_[130] and obtained from them an order on the _apparitores_[131] to track down the runaway and her abettor." [130] One of their functions made these officers practically chiefs of police.
[131] A part of these public officers performed police duty.
"_Eho!_" cried Pisander, "then you'd better leave your treasure here awhile, for us to take care of." "Not at all," replied Agias; "I could have taken her out of the city at once, but in the daytime we should have been certainly noticed and subsequently tracked.

No one will imagine Artemisia is here--at least for a while.

But this is a large familia; all may be my friends, but all may not have prudent tongues in their heads.