Mauros, who was called that on account of his extremely black beard, was a patrician in Constantinople during the second part of the reign of Justinian II. The emperor first encountered Mauros when the patrician told him of his suspicion of Leo, a young officer whom he suspected of plotting against Justinian though he had no evidence. Mauros was the second such person to talk to Justinian about Leo. Combined with the accusations provided by Helias and by Stephen, who followed Mauros some two weeks later, and despite the fact that none of them had any evidence to back up their accusations, Justinian investigated the matter and realized Leo had several mistresses scattered throughout Constantinople in addition to his wife. Deciding that hiding the existence of the mistresses from his wife wa