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 ate too much fruit yesterday.  Now, man, what do you know of this matter?”

“Nothing, sir,” he answered, falling on his knees.  “I swear to you by Christ, nothing.  Only I doubted.  The fruits were brought by a woman whom I thought that once I had seen in the household of the Augustus Constantine, and I knew——­” and he paused.

“Well, what did you know, man?  It would be best to tell me quickly, who have power here.”

“I knew, sir, what all the world knows, that Constantine would be rid of his uncles, whom he fears, though they are maimed.  No more, I swear it, no more.”

“Perhaps before the Augusta returns you may remember something more,” I said.  “Therefore, I will not judge your case at present.  Ho! guard, come hither.”

As he heard the soldiers stirring without in answer to my summons, the man, who was unarmed, looked about his desperately; then he sprang at the fruit, and, seizing a fig, strove to thrust it into his mouth.  But I was too quick for him, and within a few seconds the soldiers had him fast.

“Shut this man in a safe dungeon,” I said.  “Treat and feed him well, but search him.  See also that he does himself no harm and that none speak with him.  Then forget all this business.”

“What charge must be entered in the book, General?” asked the officer, saluting.

“A charge of stealing figs that belonged to the Caesar Nicephorus and his royal brethren,” I answered, and looked through the window.

He followed my glance, saw the poor monkey lying dead, and started.

“All shall be done,” he said, and the man was led away.

When he had gone, I sent for the physician of the jail, whom I knew to be trustworthy, since I had appointed him myself.  Without telling him anything, I bade him examine and preserve the figs, and also dissect the body of the monkey to discover why it died.

He bowed and went away with the fruit.  A while later he returned, and showed me an open fig.  In the heart of it was a pinch of white powder.

“What is it?” I asked.

“The deadliest poison that is known, General.  See, the stalk has been drawn out, the powder blown in through a straw, and then the stalk replaced.”