Chapter 51

How different, this! He saw the constant motion in the packed stands, the mosaic of a thousand daubs of colour that became kaleidoscopic with every move of the multitude. He heard the hum of voices and sensed the offensive odour of many human bodies. He saw the hawkers and vendors passing along the aisles shouting their wares. He saw the legionaries stationed everywhere. He saw the rich in their canopied loges and the poor in the hot sun of the cheap seats. Sweat was trickling down the back of the neck of the patri…