“Where possible!” Cornelius Sartorus interrupted sharply. “But in this case it was not possible.”
The Governor looked at him thoughtfully.
“The timing certainly seems to have been unfortunate,” he said mildly.
“It was perfect timing, sir,” the Prefect said. “The old Oracle had died and there was confusion about who was to be the new Oracle.”
“I still think...” Decius started, but was stopped in mid-sentence by the Governor’s raised hand.
“I have noted your thoughts Decius Brutus, but we are not here to discuss what might or might not have been. We have to deal with the fact of the riot now.”
“I say we get another statue of Claudius carved at once,” the Prefect said, “and execute the ring leaders to teach the people a lesson they won’t forget.”
“Would it not be better if we learned a
