the prison. This rule, which had been much neglected, I enforced again, with the result that I made some strange discoveries.
Thus, on the third day, there came a magnificent offering of figs for the Cæsars and Nobilissimi, the brothers-in-law of Irene and the uncles of the young Emperor Constantine, her son. These figs were being carried past me formally, when something about the appearance of one of them excited my suspicion. I took it and offered it to the jailer who carried the basket. He looked frightened, shook his head, and said,
"General, I touch no fruit."
"Indeed," I answered. "That is strange, since I thought that I saw you eating of it yesterday."
"Aye, General," he replied; "the truth is that I ate too much."
Making no answer, I went to the window, and threw the fig to a long-tailed, tame monkey which was chained to a post in the yard without. It caught it and ate greedily.
"Do not go away, friend," I said to the jailer, who was trying to depart while my back was turned. "I have questions that I would ask you."
So I spoke to him about other matters, and all the while watched the monkey.
Soon I saw that it was ill at ease. It began to tear at its stomach and to whimper like a child. Then it foamed at the mouth, was seized with convulsions, and within a quarter of an hour by the water-clock was dead.
"It would seem that those figs are poisoned, friend," I said, "and therefore it is fortunate for you that you
