In <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> no one was likely to look next day for Demetrius or those who left with him.
For those who remained on the spot supposed he had started for Cerceii, and those in Anagnia were going to meet him at the same spot, supposing he would come there.
The consequence was that his escape was entirely unnoticed, until one of the slaves who had been scourged in Anagnia ran off to Cerceii, supposing he would meet Demetrius there, and when he failed to do so ran on again to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>,
thinking he would meet him on the road.
But not finding him anywhere he informed the friends of Demetrius in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and the members of the household who were left behind.
When four days after his departure people began to look for Demetrius, a suspicion of the truth arose,
and on the fifth day, when Demetrius had already passed the Straits of Messina, a special meeting of the senate was held on the subject.
Any idea of pursuit was abandoned because on the one hand they supposed that he was well advanced on his voyage, as the wind was favourable, and on the other hand they saw that they could not prevent him even if they wished.
After a few days they appointed three commissioners, Tiberius Gracchus, Lucius Lentulus, and Servilius Glaucia to examine first of all into the state of Greece, and then, crossing to Asia, to await the result of Demetrius's action, and to inquire into the sentiments of the other kings, and decide the differences between the latter and the Galatians.
The reason why they appointed Tiberius Gracchus was that he had personal knowledge of all these subjects.
Such was the state of affairs in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.
Demetrius was anxiously expecting the arrival of the messenger who was to be sent to him.
Walbank Commentary