midday
The Cæsar was a fugitive and the people rebellious : the golden opportunity lay ready to the hand of these treacherous self-seekers : and Dea Flavia was to be their tool , their puppet , until such time as they betrayed her in her turn into other hands that paid them higher wage . Taurus Antinor wrapped the dark cloak which Dion had brought him closely around his person . He gave the slaves a mute , peremptory sign of silence and then quickly walked past the janitors , through the vestibule and out into the open street . The midday light had yielded to early afternoon . It still was grey and lurid , with a leaden mist hanging over the distance and moisture rising up from the rain-sodden ground . The worst of the storm had passed from over the city , but the thunder still rolled dully at intervals above the Campania and great gusts of wind drove the heavy rain into Taurus Antinor 's face . It seemed to him , as he walked rapidly down the narrow street in front of the Augusta 's palace , that the noise from the Forum below had gained in volume and in strength .