and he determined on a personal visit. Accordingly
he went to the temple, and inspected it. The
ceiling was excellent; the whole building in the best
repair. “What is to be done?” he asked
of one of his satellites. “Well,”
said the man, “there is nothing for you to meddle
with here, except possibly to require that the columns
should be restored to the perpendicular.”
“Restored to the perpendicular? what do you
mean?” said Verres, who knew nothing of architecture.
It was explained to him that it very seldom happened
that a column was absolutely true to the perpendicular.
“Very good,” said Verres; “we will
have the columns made perpendicular.” Notice
accordingly was sent to the lad’s guardians.
Disturbed at the prospect of indefinite loss to their
ward’s property, they sought an interview with
Verres. One of the noble family of Marcellus
waited upon him, and remonstrated against the iniquity
of the proceeding. The remonstrance was in vain.
The praetor showed no signs of relenting. There
yet remained one way, a way only too well known to
all who had to deal with him, of obtaining their object.
Application must be made to his mistress (a Greek freedwoman
of the name of Chelidon or “The Swallow").
If she could be induced to take an interest in the
case something might yet be done. Degrading as
such a course must have been to men of rank and honor,
they resolved, in the interest of their ward, to take
it. They went to Chelidon’s house.
It was thronged with people who were seeking favors
from the praetor. Some were begging for decisions
in their favor; some for fresh trials of their cases.
“I want possession,” cried one. “He
must not take the property from me,” said another.
“Don’t let him pronounce judgment against
me,” cried a third. “The property
must be assigned to me,” was the demand of a
fourth. Some were counting out money; others signing
bonds. The deputation, after waiting awhile, were
admitted to the presence. Their spokesman explained
the case, begged for Chelidon’s assistance,
and promised a substantial consideration. The
lady was very gracious. She would willingly do
what she could, and would talk to the praetor about
it. The deputation must come again the next day
and hear how she had succeeded. They came again,
but found that nothing could be done. Verres
felt sure that a large sum of money was to be got out
of the proceeding, and resolutely refused any compromise.
They next made an offer of about two thousand pounds.
This again was rejected. Verres resolved that
he would put up the contract to auction, and did his
best that the guardians should have no notice of it.
Here, however, he failed. They attended the auction
and made a bid. Of course the lowest bidder ought
to have been accepted, so long as he gave security
for doing the work well. But Verres refused to
accept it. He knocked down the contract to himself
at a price of more than five thousand pounds, and
this though there were persons willing to do it for
less than a sixth of that sum. As a matter of
fact very little was done. Four of the columns
were pulled down and built up again with the same
stones. Others were whitewashed; some had the
old cement taken out and fresh put in.[1] The highest
estimate for all that could possibly be wanted was
less than eight hundred pounds.