Modestus, having left the kitchen, where he had eaten an excellent dinner, slowly returned to the prison.
When he approached the prison, he saw an open door. Alarmed he said "Heavens above!" "Strythio, surely you have not left the door of the prison open? He found the doors of the all cells open. When he had seen this, he said "Oh dear!" "All the doors are open! The prisoners, having escaped from the cells, have all fled!"
Modestus anxious thought about the matter. For he did not know where had the prisoners fled; he could not understand why Strythio was not here.
"What should I do? It is very dangerous for me to stay here where the centurion could find me. I must flee. O Strythio, Strythio! You have forced me to abandon my post. You have made me a deserter. But I make the Gods my witness. Unwillingly I desert my post.
Modestus, having said this, suddenly heard a sound. Someone was trying to open Vercobrix's cell and leave!
"I must escape the prison" shouted someone from the cell.
When Modestus had heard this, rand to the door of the cell and shut it.
"Vercobrix, you must stay in your cell!" shouted Modestus.
"Hurray! Vercobrix has not escaped. I have him as prisoner! Hurray! Now the centurion cannot hurt me, because I have held back a prison of the greatest prestige."
But Modestus remained anxious; for he did not know what had happened to Strythio. Suddenly he caught sight of a dagger left on the ground.
"Hey, what is this? I recognise this dagger! It is the dagger of Strythio! I gave it to Strythio, when he was celebrating his birthday. Oh dear! The dagger is covered in blood. O my dear Strythio. Now I understand the matter. You are dead! The prisoners, having escaped the cells, have killed you. Oh dear! When I was eating dinner in the kitchen, they were fighting with you! O Strythio! Nobody is more unlucky than I. For I loved you like a father to a son. Vercobrix, who even now remains in this cell, must pay the penalty. Hey! Vercobrix, hear me! You must die, because my Strythio is dead."
Modestus in a rage burst in to the cell. He began to hit the prisoner, who lay hidden.
Prisoner: Modestus! My dear Modestus! Stop hitting me. Surely you recognise me? I am Strythio, whom you love like a father to a son.
Modestus: Strythio! Strythio! Surely you are not alive? Why are you alive? Wicked! Scoundrel! Where are the prisoners whom you were guarding?
Strythio: They fled Modestus. They tricked me. They forced me to open the doors of all the cells.
Modestus: Oh dear! What should we do?
Strythio: We must escape at once; I hear the centurion approaching.
Moduestus: O Strythio! O, how unlucky I am!
The friends escaped as quickly as possible from the prison.