‘If he is plotting something,’ Macro reminded him. ‘Look here, Cato. If he is plotting against the Emperor, then what’s the worst that can happen? He plays clean and drops any plots he might be hatching against Claudius. He spends the rest of his days looking over his shoulder and acting the model citizen. The longer we wait to use that document, the less chance we have of keeping a lid on all the trouble that is brewing around here. We need to take command of the Second Illyrian now.We have to find Bannus and crush him before he has sufficient strength to destroy us and spread his rebellion. So what if we lose the chance to prove Longinus is a traitor, if indeed he really is? What’s that against the prospect of letting Judaea flare up into open rebellion if we do nothing?’

Cato looked at his friend for a moment while he weighed up Macro’s argument. It made sense, even if they failed to carry out Narcissus’ original design to expose a conspiracy at the heart of the eastern empire. He nodded. ‘All right then. How should we proceed? We can’t just show Scrofa the scroll and tell him to move over.’

‘Why not?’

‘Supposing he decides to ignore it. Hush it up by having us thrown into a cell, and destroying the document?’

‘Then we have to make sure there are witnesses at the time.’

‘How? If we’re in here, or in his office, he will have us on our own.’

‘True.’ Macro frowned, then clicked his fingers. ‘All right, so we tell the other officers to join us for the meeting.’

‘How?’ Cato waved towards the door. ‘We’re being guarded.’

Macro nodded towards Symeon.’He can do it. He can get a message to the others. The ones that Scrofa hasn’t bought out. Starting with Parmenion.’

‘It might work,’ Cato conceded. ‘But how would Parmenion know when to act?’

‘Symeon can keep watch. We tell the guards that we want to speak with Scrofa. The moment we are escorted from here, or Scrofa leaves his quarters and heads this way, Symeon fetches Parmenion and the others to join us. As soon as the witnesses turn up we produce the imperial authority and kick Scrofa out on his arse.’

‘Very well.’ Cato stroked his chin. ‘But once you have control of the cohort, what happens next?’

‘We have to deal with Bannus.’

‘Then we’re going to need more men.’

‘Maybe. We can ask Longinus for reinforcements.’

‘Why should he give us any help?’

Macro smiled. ‘Trust me. He’ll be more than willing. If Longinus knows that Narcissus is watching him closely he’ll need to prove his loyalty to the Emperor any way he can.’