a roll of persons known as the “friends of Caesar”—­a roll which depends solely on the favour of the emperor.  Naturally it contains the names of a number of the highest senators and of the chief officers of the state, but a place in it is not gained simply by such positions, nor is it restricted to them.  There may be a few knights and others on the list.  To be removed from the roll is to be socially a marked man and a person to be avoided.  Silius is, at least for the time being, one of the “friends.”  Nero is not yet in sufficient financial straits to require that Silius should be squeezed or sacrificed, nor has he chosen to take offence at something which a spy or informer has reported of him.  Our friend therefore enjoys the entree to the palace, and to the palace he goes.

It is a clear fine morning, and he has plenty of time.  He therefore perhaps elects to go on foot.  Learning this, a number of his clients form a procession.  Some are honoured by walking at his side, a few go in advance and so clear a way through the crowd—­which is already moving at the top of the Sacred Way—­to the point where you turn off on the left and ascend to the entrance to the Palatine Hill.  Some of the clients will walk behind, where also will be a lackey or two in waiting.  On the way Silius may perhaps meet with Manlius, another noble, whom he probably greets with “Good morning, brother,” and a kiss upon the cheek.  This kissing, it may be remarked, ultimately became an intolerable nuisance, particularly among the middle classes, and the epigrammatist, after complaining of the cold noses and wet osculations of the winter-time, pleads to have the business at least put off till the month of April.

When it is a bad or sloppy day, Silius will decide to go in his litter, or Roman form of the palanquin.  Being a senator he may use this conveyance, otherwise at this date he could not.  There are also sedan chairs, but as yet there exists a prejudice against these as being somewhat effeminate.  At this decision four, six, or eight tall fellows, slaves from Cappadocia or Germany by preference, clad in crimson liveries, thrust two long poles through the rings or the coloured leather straps which are to be found on the sides of the litter, and place these poles upon their shoulders.  To all intents and purposes the litter is a couch with an arched roof above it, of the shape here indicated, but covered with cushions, which are often stuffed with down.  Its woodwork is decorated with silver and ivory.  The litter may either be carried open on all sides, or with curtains of coloured stuffs partially drawn, or it may be enclosed by windows of talc or glass.  In the days when litters were in promiscuous use, persons who did not possess one, or perhaps the slaves to bear it, might hire such a vehicle from the “rank,” after the modern manner of hiring a cab.  In this receptacle Silius is carried amid the same procession as before.

[Illustration:  FIG. 62.—­LITTER.]