Vespasian spoke for almost an hour recounting his conversations with Sabinus, Tryphaena, Paelignus, Vologases and Felix. When he was finished Pallas sat in thoughtful silence. ‘Tryphaena?’ he said after a while. ‘So the embassy wasn’t Parthian after all but her people masquerading as such. I suppose that the leaders of the northern tribes wouldn’t know the difference between a real and a fake Parthian. In reality they probably just spent a few days of meaningless conversation with the embassy, having no idea that they were being deceived; but it was enough to make us suspicious. It was just all about timing; that explains it.’ He gave a rare smile. ‘Narcissus was wrong; Agrippina had nothing to do with it.’ His smile broadened. ‘That’s a great weight cleared from my mind. If she’s not vulnerable to the accusation of treason then I can feel safe enough to press ahead with our arrangements. Tryphaena has prepared the ground for us very well indeed; there is even an Armenian delegation just arrived in the city to plead with the Emperor to send in more troops. Luring Parthia into a war with Rome has done everything that she hoped. People are now openly blaming Claudius for the instability in the East; only a couple of days ago a series of senators spoke against him in the Senate – in guarded terms, admittedly, but still against him.’
Gaius nodded, licking crumbs from his fingers. ‘I was there; it made me rather uneasy. Can you imagine anyone doing that with Caligula?’
‘Or, for that matter, in the early days of Claudius’ reign?’ Pallas contemplated that for a few moments. ‘No, it has weakened him; that and his drinking as well as all the stories whispered by Seneca and Burrus, exaggerating Nero’s capabilities and intelligence; people are now ready for a change. Especially since Paelignus came back to Rome boasting of how he lost a couple of fingers while he bloodied the Parthian nose but was then forced to withdraw because of lack of reinforcements.’
‘Paelignus is back?’ Vespasian felt a surge of hatred for the odious little procurator who had cost him two years of his life.
‘Yes, and foolishly he’s let it be known that he was very wealthy again with what he brought back and then what he inherited on the death of his father last year. Claudius made him a senator now that he’s passed the financial threshold and has since, when sober, been systematically stripping him of his new wealth at the gaming table.’
‘I’d like to strip him of a lot more than that. He betrayed me to the Parthians in Armenia.’
‘Did he now? That’s not how Paelignus tells it.’ Pallas held Vespasian’s gaze. ‘You’ll have the perfect opportunity for revenge for what he did to you in Armenia in the blood-letting that will follow Nero’s ascension.’
‘And will there be much?’
‘I hope not. If, between Seneca, Burrus and myself, we can keep Nero in line then he could make a fine emperor; at least at the beginning.’
That was not Vespasian’s reading of Nero’s character. ‘And after the beginning?’
‘We’ll see what happens once power ceases to be a novelty. The important thing is for him not to think that the Senate are against him, as Claudius did at the start of his reign; and that will be down to you two. Emphasise in your speeches that Nero will show strength from the very start by prosecuting the war in Armenia that Vologases is so considerately continuing for both our sakes.’
Vespasian had a moment of clarity. ‘If it’s strength that he wants to portray then he should also do something here, something tangible that both the Senate and the people will respect.’
Pallas was interested. ‘What are you suggesting?’
‘Your brother’s warning about this Jewish cult; have Nero take a personal interest in stamping them out in Rome.’
‘A couple of years ago, while you were away, Claudius expelled a whole load of people, Jews and otherwise, for worshipping somebody called Chrestus; is that the same thing?’
‘Probably; but does it matter? The important thing is to unite the majority of the people behind the new Emperor by vilifying a dangerous minority and exterminating them.’
Pallas got to his feet. ‘Yes, that should bring about a communal sense of wellbeing; especially if we can find a couple of higher profile members of this cult. Gaius, I’m afraid that I have to decline your kind offer to stay for lunch; I need to get back to the Palatine to escort Claudius to the Senate. No need to get up, gentlemen; I trust that you will be present to hear the Emperor speak at the seventh hour?’ Without waiting for a reply he walked out of the garden, leaving Gaius sweating with fear of knowledge that he would rather not have possessed and Vespasian contemplating his revenge on Paelignus.