He appeared to be angry-quite angry, in fact; and he had a stick in his hand.

"Don't touch me!" yelled Little Boots. "Brit! Brit! Don't let him touch me! Knock his block off!"

I backed up and stood in front of Little Boots, but I inwardly questioned the wisdom of knocking the block off Nero Caesar. I had learned that one does not with impunity knock the block off a Caesar, and the memory of the crucified slaves along the Via Flaminia arose to counsel me.

I thought of a better plan. Turning and stooping, I whispered to Little Boots, "Scream! Scream like hell!"

Little Boots, catching the drift of the idea, screamed. Nero's lower jaw sprung loose and dangled; his eyes popped; then he turned and vanished into the golden sunlight-and not a moment too soon, for in about seven seconds the balcony was jammed with spectators, including Agrippina.

"Now what?" she demanded, seeing no blood on the furniture and Little Boots quite evidently hale and hearty.

"Nero," said Little Boots.

"He didn't do anything to Little Boots," I said. "Really he didn't."

"Shut up, slave!" said Agrippina. "I didn't ask you. Learn your place, if you do not wish to be flogged." It was once more further borne in upon my consciousness that Agrippina was not fond of me.

"What did Nero do to you, Caligula?" she insisted. "Tell Mamma."

"He beat me over the head with a big stick and was going to stab me with a dagger-my brother whom I so love!" said Little Boots, sorrowfully. Agrippina whirled on me. "Why didn't you protect my baby-you-you-you-"

"Filthy barbarian," I suggested, to help her out.

Agrippina choked; she was gathering strength for another burst when a man's voice, from the doorway, said, "What is all this commotion?" and Germanicus strode into the room. He walked over to Little Boots and examined his head, looking for cuts, bruises, and abrasions, I imagine; but of course he didn't find any. "Did Nero strike him, or threaten to stab him, Britannicus?" he asked.

I glanced fearfully at Agrippina and shook my head; then Germanicus turned Caligula over his knee and spanked his bare bottom. "This," he said, "will help to remind you not to lie." Then he laid on a few more, nicely timed, and added, "And these will remind you not to scream unless you have something to scream for, like this," and he lambasted him with a few more real stingers.

I could have suggested quite a number of additional reminders, and I think that Germanicus was trying to recall some more, when Agrippina rushed up and tore Little Boots from his embrace. "You brute!" she cried. Germanicus sighed and walked out of the room. The episode was closed.

We drove to the Forum in several vehicles to witness the triumph. Germanicus, of course, had to leave earlier than the rest of us, as he was to ride in the great procession. Agrippina and Antonia rode alone in a magnificent carpentum encrusted with gold and set with precious jewels, its interior upholstered in rarest fabrics. As usual, Agrippina was taking it big and looking down her long nose at the poor plebs who lined the way.