But Chilo's whole past was of such character that every closer acquaintance with the prefect of the city or the prefect of the guard must cause him very serious trouble, and confirm also every suspicion which might enter the heads of officials.
On the other hand, to flee would be to confirm Petronius in the opinion that Vinicius had been betrayed and murdered through conspiracy.
Petronius was a powerful man, who could command the police of the whole Empire, and who beyond doubt would try to find the guilty parties even at the ends of the earth.

Still, Chilo thought to go straight to him, and tell what had happened.

Yes; that was the best plan.

Petronius was calm, and Chilo might be sure of this, at least, that he would hear him to the end.

Petronius, who knew the affair from its inception, would believe in Chilo's innocence more easily than would the prefects.
But to go to him, it was needful to know with certainty what had happened to Vinicius.