"No, I don't agree," Piso repliedcalmly.
I do not know who was more shocked, me orthe Senior Tribune, whose mouth fell open. Apparently, I thought,he is under the impression that anything he decides is supposed tobe accepted without argument. Perhaps that was due just to his ownpresumption, enamored of his status as the ultimate judge; or,could he have been given instructions to that effect? Withoutmoving my head from looking in the direction of the Senior Tribune,I studied Piso out of the corner of my eye, trying to determine ifhe had just gone off an already agreed upon script, or I was beingtoo suspicious.
Oblivious to my quandary, Piso continued,"While I agree that it's too much to expect that we allow everycomrade of the Prefect to attend, at the very least I think that heshould be allowed to pick one representative."
The Senior Tribune said nothing for amoment, eying my defender with open suspicion, clearly trying todetermine what ulterior motive Piso might have. Frankly, I did notknow if he was thinking of anything specific, but I was fairlycertain that he had someone specific in mind, as did I. Given howmatters played out, although Piso and I never discussed it later,this would be another moment that I would grudgingly ascribe to theintervention of the gods, if I still had congress with them.
Finally, he gave a wave of his hand, "Verywell. I can see no reason to deny this request. Do you have anyobjection, Sulpicianus?"
I was about to leap to my feet to object onmy own, a serious breach of regulations covering Tribunals, even ifPiso did as well, because this was a sign of blatant favoritism; wehad not been asked about Claudius' presence, after all.Fortunately, I did not need to do so, because Sulpicianus shook hishead, and in fact did not even look up from a tablet that he wasreading as he prepared for the testimony of Lucullus.
"Go get Fronto," I told Piso who, althoughhe clearly did not like being ordered in such a peremptory fashion,left immediately.
While he was gone, it gave me theopportunity to watch Lucullus and Claudius, and while I was notsurprised that Lucullus refused to meet my gaze, I was whenClaudius actually did. His face showed no emotion, but he did nodhis head slightly, which I answered with the same gesture. Then Iheard the door open, and Piso returned, Scribonius right behindhim. I pointed to the chair that the slave had produced once it wasdetermined there would be another spectator, which I had orderedplaced immediately behind me so that Scribonius could easily leanforward a bit and whisper something to me.
He wasted no time, asking me quietly even ashe was sitting down, "What's this about?"
"Fairness," I grunted, then nodded my headover in the direction of Lucullus and Claudius, the latter sittingin a spot not much different from that of my friend. "If he canhave someone supporting him when he lies, then I can have someonehere when I tell the truth."
"That will be quite enough, Prefect," theSenior Tribune said sharply, startling me and making me realizethat, as usual, my voice had carried. "I can assure you that if anywitness is found to be lying, that will not be allowed. Thisproceeding is being conducted with the utmost fairness andimpartiality."
I did not answer, just giving a nod as Istared down at the table while Piso seemed unperturbed.
"You never could whisper for cac,"Scribonius muttered, prompting a very undignified snort as Istifled a laugh, prompting another glare from the SeniorTribune.
"It would seem that this is hardly anoccasion for levity, Prefect Pullus."
I know he was trying to sound severe andvery judicial, but that was more than I could take from a youngpup, and as had happened so many times before, my temper ruled mytongue.
"This isn't the first time I've faced death,Senior Tribune." I made sure to look the boy in the eye, and myvoice was as cold as I could make it. "And this isn't the firsttime I've laughed at it. I've had quite a bit of experience...atboth," I finished.
Color rushed to the Senior Tribune's face,and it pleased me to think that I had scored a telling blow. As itturned out, I was the only one.
"That was a foolish thing to say, Prefect,"Piso said, so that only I could hear him.
And Scribonius, who felt compelled to addhis own opinion on my wit.
"By the Furies, Titus," he hissed, and Icould easily hear the anger there, "will you never learn to keepyour mouth shut?"
"Apparently not," I muttered, furious atmyself because I knew they were right.
Fortunately, there were other matters forall of us to turn our attention to, when Sulpicianus, now that thebrief disturbance in the normal proceedings were concluded, toldLucullus to go sit in the chair to give his testimony. Watching ascarefully as I would a man with a sword about to launch his attackon me, I followed Lucullus, dressed in his own purple-borderedtoga, as he walked over and took his seat. For the briefestinstant, his hand reached down to the seat of the chair in the kindof move one makes when they are going to reposition the facing of achair, but then he withdrew it. I had not even finished turning myhead to urge Piso to object, when he came to his feet to do thatvery thing.
"Senior Tribune, with all due respect, Imust ask why this witness is being allowed to sit with his back tothe Prefect and me? After all, one of the most basic precepts ofour system of justice, that is hundreds of years old," he added,"is the right of a Roman citizen
