Carinus ignored him and began to take testimony. A servant swore that the odor of brimstone had filled the air at the time of both fires and several others corroborated his testimony.
“It is well known that the Christians believe in an evil spirit named Lucifer, or the devil, who dwells in a place called Hades, where fires of brimstone are always burning, Carinus said smugly. “I think the connection here is quite obvious to everyone.”
“Then is it your belief that this evil spirit set fire to the palace twice in order to cause the persecution of the Christian sect?” Constantine asked.
Christians invoked the power
It is our contention that the Christians invoked the power of the Evil One against the person and property of the Emperor,” Carinus said.
“Invoked?” Constantine raised his eyebrows. “When the one you call Lucifer is the enemy of the Christians?”
You seem to know much about this accursed sect, Tribune,” Carinus snapped. “Perhaps you can tell us what happened!”
I have already told you I was almost struck by the lightning bolt that set fire to the palace the first time. I did notice an odor in the air, but it was only the pungent smell that is always present when lightning strikes close by. As for the second fire, I was not in the city ”
There were no clouds that night,” Carinus interrupted. “And no thunderclaps.”
Constantine shrugged. “Then no doubt there was no odor either, so your witnesses must be lying.”
The hearing ended quickly but Constantine did not doubt that the story told to Diocletian would name the Christians as criminals. Or that, in the Emperor’s present low state of both spirits and health, he could be persuaded easily that the hated sect was to blame. Nor was Constantine surprised to receive an order to marshal the household troops in the square before the palace the following morning for the purpose of carrying out an edict of the Emperor which would be announced at that time.
A scapegoat had obviously been found, only the formality of naming it publicly remained.
It was late afternoon before Constantine was able to turn over command of the palace to Dacius and ride to the estate of his Uncle Marios overlooking the Gulf of Nicomedia a few miles beyond the boundaries of the capital.
Read More about East and the hierarchy of his appointees
