TIME TO DEPART

`They knew how to get things done,' I agreed. `Maybe it is someone from the Balbinus organisation – maybe even No

`That's an interesting suggestion,' Rubella murmured, apparently taking no interest at all.

Suddenly I quite liked being given No

At the door I paused. Rubella was busy opening a new cone of sunflower seeds. `Tribune, a question. How much am I allowed to say to No

He looked back at me almost dreamily. `Anything you like.'

`He turned state evidence. Doesn't that mean he gets treated with circumspection?'

`He's a hardened criminal,' said Rubella. `He knows the numbers on the dice. Balbinus has been safely put away. No

`Fine.' I could trample toes. I could even be respectful if the situation really warranted. I had one more question. It concerned another sensitive area. `Does Petronius know that I'm being given a wider brief than he suggested?'

`You can tell him when you see him,' said Marcus Rubella, like a man who really did not know he had just put the lid down on a very old friendship. He was still smiling benignly as I shut the door.

He could be one of those dark types who like to pretend they never lift a digit, while all the time they have a swift comprehension of events, a warm grasp of human relationships, and an incisive grip on their duties in public life. He could be loyal, trustworthy and intelligent.

On the other hand, he could be just as he appeared: a lazy carefree overpromoted swine.

XVII

NONNIUS LIVED IN the Twelfth region – about two streets from Helena Justina's father. Which proves that money can buy you respectable neighbours – or a house next door to criminals. It was no better than where I lived. The criminals in the Capena Gate sector just happened to be richer and more vicious than the ones in Fountain Court.

The senator was a millionaire; he had to be. This was the rough-and ready qualification for the job. Well, nobody needs exorbitant talents like judgement, or even a sense of honour, to vote in an assembly three times a month. But possessing a million is useful, I'm told, and the Camillus family lived comfortable lives. Helena's mother wore her semi-precious jasper necklace just to visit her manicurist.

No

`It's like visiting a consul!' I marvelled.

Fusculus looked wry. `Except that No

There were stone urns with well-watered laurel bushes just like those at Helena's father's abode. Clearly the topiary-tub supplier at the Capena Gate didn't care who his customers were.

`What did you make of Rubella?' queried Fusculus as we still tapped our boot heels in the unobtrusive portico while the porter went off to vet us. `A bit of a complicated character?'

`He has a secret sorrow.' `Oh! What's that, Falco?'

`How would I know? It's a secret.'

Petro's team had investigated too many inarticulate inadequates. None of his lads could spot a joke coming. `Oh, I thought you were in on something.'

`No,' I explained gently. `I just get a deep sexual thrill from speculating wildly about people I have only just met.' Fusculus gave me a nervous look.

No

The bowl they were in was a cracker too: a wide bronze comport two feet across, with three linked dolphins forming a handsome foot and with sea-horse handles. The bowl was far too heavy for a sick man to lift, so it was held for No

No

He was about sixty and pretty well bald. Despite being so poorly he had managed to shave; to make it more bearable his barber had aided the process with a precociously scented balsam. His tunic was plain white, but scrupulously clean. He wore no gems. His boots looked like old favourites. I mean, they looked as if they had already kicked in the kidneys of several hundred tardy payers, and were still greased daily in case they found a chance of kicking more. Everything about him said that if we a

Fusculus introduced me. We had fixed a story: `Didius Falco has a roving commission, in a supervisory capacity, working alongside the public auditor.'

Nobody believed it, but that didn't matter.

`I'm sorry to learn you're off colour,' I mouthed sympathetically. `I may need to go through some figures eventually, but I'll try to limit the agony. I don't want to tire you -'

`You being fu

`I was told you had to take it easy…'

`Raiding Balbinus' accounts seems to have given me a new lease of life!' It could just have been the desperate jest of a genuine deathbed case. I was trying to decide if the bastard was really ill. No

`Is the Treasury man helping you?' I asked.

`Not a lot.' That sounded like most Treasury men. `Want to see him?' No

`No thanks. So what's the score so far?' I tossed at him unexpectedly.

He had it pat: `Two million, and still counting.'

I let out a low whistle. `That's a whole bunch of radishes!' He looked satisfied, but said nothing. `Very pleasant for you,' I prompted.

`If I can get at it. Balbinus tried to lock it in a cupboard out of reach.'