Constantine, who was not unacquainted with law, but was very young and
had never yet taken part in a trial; besides which, he was the most
abandoned thief and braggart in the world. Justinian entertained the
highest regard for him and showed him very great favour, condescending
to make him the chief instrument of his extortion and sole arbiter in
legal decisions. By this means Constantine in a short time amassed
great wealth, but his insolence was outrageous, and his pride led him
to treat everyone with contempt. Even those who were desirous of
making him considerable presents were obliged to intrust them to those
who seemed to be most in his confidence, for no one was permitted to
approach or converse with him, except when he was hurrying to or
returning from the Emperor. Even then he did not slacken his pace,
but walked on hastily, for fear that those who approached him might
waste his time without paying for it. Such was the manner in which
Justinian dealt with the Quaestorship.




CHAPTER XXI


The Praefect of the supreme tribunals, besides the public tax,
annually paid to the Emperor more than thirty centenars of gold. This
sum was called the "aerial tribute," doubtless because it was no
regular or usual one, but seemed to have fallen as it were by chance
from Heaven, whereas it ought rather to have been called "the impost
of his wickedness," for it served as a pretext to those functionaries,
who were invested with high power, to plunder their subjects
incessantly without fear of punishment. They pretended that they had