"Yes, I am," he replied stubbornly. "Idistinctly remember it."
"Then why," asked Piso, "in your originalstatement, did you very specifically say that you had only oneconversation with Prefect Pullus?
"That's not true," Lucullus protested, stilllooking at Sulpicianus, who was just beginning to understand thescope of the calamity. "I know I mentioned that we had talked morethan once when I was first questioned!"
Piso looked to the Senior Tribune now.
"There's a simple way to resolve this," hetold the Senior Tribune. "What I have here is a copy. TribuneSulpicianus is in possession of the original. I suggest that wecompare the two and determine who is correct."
This was so eminently reasonable that it didnot take the Senior Tribune, who was beginning to look as if hewanted to be anywhere else but here, to agree.
"Tribune Sulpicianus," he called out."Please produce the original statement of Tribune Lucullus."
"Of course," Sulpicianus responded, even ashe began rummaging through the pile of scrolls sitting on hisdesk.
As I watched, I saw his movements growincreasingly frantic, until scrolls were flying in every directionas he opened each one, scanned it, then tossed it aside. Exhaustingthe supply on his desk, he spun around, snapping at hisnow-terrified slave to open the pouch that had evidently carriedthe state's case to the Praetorium. Pawing through it, morescrolls were examined, then sent flying through the air until,finally, Sulpicianus was left staring down into the pouch.
The Senior Tribune cleared his throat again;I was learning this was his preferred method getting the attentionof people in the room.
"Tribune," he asked. "Is there a problem?Can you produce the original statement of Tribune Lucullus?"
Even from where I was seated, I could seeSulpicianus swallow hard, but I will give him that his voice wasstrong when he answered, "Senior Tribune, it appears that wehave...misplaced the original statement."
"Misplaced?" I do not know if the disbeliefon the part of the Senior Tribune was feigned, but I suspect thatit was genuine. "How, by Jupiter, do you misplace something asimportant as the critical piece of evidence in the state's caseagainst the Prefect?"
"I don't know," Sulpicianus replied, clearlymiserable. "If I might ask for a brief recess, I could..."
"No!" Piso interjected sharply. "Prolongingthis ordeal would be grossly unjust to the Prefect! I'm afraid thatI must vigorously protest if the Senior Tribune would consider thisrequest seriously! I..."
The Senior Tribune cut him off with a waveof his hand, saying wearily, "Save your breath Piso. I'm not goingto grant the request for a recess, not when you had all this timeto prepare. Really," he said severely to the prosecuting Tribune,"this does not reflect well on any of us, Sulpicianus. We've beenentrusted with a very heavy duty, and to think that something asimportant as that scroll could be lost? That is not something thatneeds to be known outside the confines of this room." To emphasizehis point, he shook his head as he finished, "No, this will endtoday."
"Senior Tribune, in light of the fact thatthe prosecutor can't produce the original statement of TribuneLucullus, and given that there is a discrepancy between theofficial copy that I have," he again made a point to wave thetablet, "and the testimony that Tribune Lucullus gave earliertoday, I request that his statement be disregarded by the Tribunal,and that it not be allowed to be entered into the record atall."
"Now that," the Senior Tribune responded,"is extreme. At least, that last part about it not being admittedat all. However, I will say that the fact that there is adiscrepancy, which," he turned to glower at Lucullus, "I distinctlyremember as being odd, given your original statement, I will saythat the testimony of Tribune Lucullus is to be considered suspect,and I direct my fellow members of the Tribunal to keep that inmind."
From my viewpoint, that was a completevictory, but clearly Piso did not see it that way, because helooked anything but pleased.
Regardless, he inclined his head as he said,"I understand, and I thank the Senior Tribune for acknowledging asfact what I was going to prove, that the testimony of TribuneLucullus is...suspect, at the very least."
Lucullus got to his feet, his anger at theslur on his honor, no matter how much it was deserved, overrulinghis sense of caution.
"Now see here, Piso," he said loudly. "Iwon't stand here and be..."
"I have no more questions for the TribuneLucullus, Senior Tribune," Piso interjected. "So I ask that he bedismissed from his testimony."
"Agreed," the Senior Tribune respondedimmediately. "You are dismissed, Tribune Lucullus."
While he looked disposed to argue, Lucullusfinally gave a simple nod, then stalked off to take his seat nextto his cousin. Who, I noted idly, appeared to be the least affectedof all of us, his face betraying no emotion at all.
Sitting back, I felt the first blossoming ofrelief filling my chest. Glancing over at Diocles, I saw him with asimilar look on his face. However, when I turned to Scribonius, myheart sank at the sight of that damnable frown on his face.
"What?" I am afraid I snapped this,irritated that he did not share in my joy.
"Nothing," he said, too quickly.
I knew him better than this, and I refusedto turn my gaze away, until he heaved a huge sigh.
"Fine," he relented. "This is very, verygood. But I don't know if it's enough."
For an answer, I looked over at Piso.Contrary to what I expected, his expression was closer to that ofScribonius than to mine.
"As your friend says, it's very, very good,"he said, so carefully that I felt the leaden ball that had finallystarted dissipating come surging back. "But I don't know that it'senough."
Without waiting for any more discourse, Pisosuddenly turned back to the Senior Tribune who, at that verymoment, had opened his mouth to demand the proceedings continueapace.
"Senior Tribune," Piso called out. "May Ihave a brief moment to confer with the Prefect?"
"That's not fair." I suppose I should nothave been surprised that this did not come from Sulpicianus butfrom Lucullus, but I was, as Sulpicianus only added his feeblesupport, echoing Lucullus' sentiment.
"I'm not asking for a recess," Piso shotback. "I'm just asking for a moment to confer with the Prefect
