What became of him afterwards we do not know; nor has anyone seen him
up to the present day. For when Theodora desired to keep any of her
actions secret, she took care to prevent their being talked about or
remembered. None of those who were privy to them were permitted to
disclose them even to their nearest relations, or to any who desired
to obtain information on the subject, however curious they might be.
No tyrant had ever yet inspired such fear, since it was impossible for
any word or deed of her opponents to pass unnoticed. For she had a
number of spies in her employ who informed her of everything that was
said and done in public places and private houses. When she desired to
punish anyone who had offended her, she adopted the following plan. If
he were a patrician, she sent for him privately, and handed him over
to one of her confidential attendants, with instructions to carry him
to the furthest boundaries of the empire. In the dead of night, her
agent, having bound the unfortunate man and muffled his face, put him
on board a ship, and, having accompanied him to the place whither he
had been instructed to convey him, departed, having first delivered
him secretly to another who was experienced in this kind of service,
with orders that he was to be kept under the strictest watch, and that
no one should be informed of it, until either the Empress took pity
upon the unfortunate man, or, worn out by his sufferings, he at length
succumbed and died a miserable death.

A youth of distinguished family, belonging to the Green faction, named
Basianus, had incurred the Empress's displeasure by speaking of her in
sarcastic terms. Hearing that she was incensed against him, he fled
for refuge to the church of St. Michael the Archangel. Theodora
immediately sent the Praetor of the people to seize him, bidding him
charge him, however, not with insolence towards herself, but with the
crime of sodomy. The magistrate, having dragged him from the church,