Death at Pompeia

Thirteen

To say that I was thunderstruck would be understating it. I could not have been more startled if the statue on the desk had suddenly transformed into Jupiter himself. I found my mouth wide open like a actor’s mask, designed to portray the emotion of surprise. In other circumstances it would have been quite comical. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I gasped at last. ‘I’m not his messenger. I have never spoken to Antoninus in my life.’

He looked at me coolly, and with faint disgust. ‘Citizen, I warn you, I am not quite as stupid as you seem to think. Nor as unprotected. I see you are unarmed. However, I have a sharpened dagger in this drawer, and my foreman keeps a large club just beside the warehouse door. Also, a large number of the slaves that you saw working on the dock outside are mine. Strong fellows, all of them. I lease them to the overseer as extra lightermen when I’m not using them myself, but if they get a signal they will come at once, armed with any implement they can lay their hands upon.’

‘And that’s what you would have done if I’d attempted an arrest?’ I said, through lips which had suddenly gone dry.

A faint smile played around the chubby face. ‘Of course. What did you expect? That I’d go quietly and let them drag me off and lock me in some fetid cell until Livia brought some trumped-up charges against me in the court? I would have made at least an effort to defend myself, if only long enough to make my own escape. Livia could not have brought a charge against me then.’

I nodded. ‘You have to produce the person you accuse before the magistrates, or there is no case.’

‘Exactly. So I would have called my slaves. And don’t think they wouldn’t come. I have had occasion to call upon them once or twice before, when someone has tried to cheat me out of what I owe. They are quite effective, when they are asked to be.’

I remembered what the soldier had told me about the rumpus yesterday, and flinched. It had not occurred to me before that I might be in danger here. ‘But I did not come to arrest you, citizen.’ I realized I was bleating rather like a sheep.

‘So I observe. And you did not come to trade with me, and you swear that Antoninus did not send you here. I am not a trusting man.’ He examined his fingernails, which were carefully manicured — by some personal slave, I suppose. ‘And if you do not tell me — clearly and at once — what you came here for, I will whistle for assistance and see if my servants can persuade you to explain.’

There was no doubt this time that it was a threat. I quickly decided that honesty was the safest course. ‘I did come to see you about the death today, but not at Livia’s behest and not because I suspected you of it. I wanted more information about Honorius, that’s all, preferably from someone outside the family, who might be relied upon to give a balanced view. I knew that you’d had business dealings with him in the past.’

He was looking unconvinced. ‘And why should you bother to ask anyone at all? You tell me you didn’t especially know the family?’

‘That’s true. But my patron used to use me to investigate such crimes — it has become a sort of habit with him, I suppose — and Gracchus got to hear about my reputation in this field. He is paying me to find the murderer and prove Pompeia innocent.’ I paused and glanced at him. ‘I hadn’t intended to tell anybody that — I wanted them to assume I was a simple citizen, wanting to talk about a crime I’d witnessed, that is all.’

He finished the wine slowly and pushed the cup away. ‘You know, I’m inclined to believe you, citizen. I think I’ve heard of you, by reputation anyway. A protégé of Marcus Septimus, you say? Are you that pavement-maker who once foiled a plot against the state?’

I bowed my head. ‘The Provincial Governor was good enough to say so, citizen.’ I felt so weak and giddy with relief, I would even have been grateful for a sip of wine.

But that was not to be. He folded his arms and went on scrutinizing me. ‘Marcus was praising you in the curia one day. A fine mind under a humble exterior, he said. Only a pity that you weren’t a richer man, because you would have made a useful councillor yourself. Would you agree with that assessment of yourself?’

I could only smile wryly at this analysis. ‘My wealth, or lack of it, is largely in the hands of His Excellence himself, since he feels it would “insult” me to pay me for my time, but these assignments inevitably keep me from my trade.’ I paused. I was afraid this sounded rather critical — which could make for serious trouble if Marcus heard of it — and I hastened to add quickly, ‘Though of course he has always given me gifts in kind instead — many of which are very generous.’

Redux gave an unexpected hoot of laughter at my words. ‘Presents, eh? Well if I know Marcus, they are gifts which rarely require him to reach into his purse. Rather like that wedding salver, in fact.’ He raised one eyebrow at me.

‘A very handsome gift,’ I said, refusing to be drawn.

Redux surprised me with his response to that. ‘Loyal as well as honest? You impress me, pavement-maker. So tell me something else. Why should Gracchus employ your services? I hardly imagine that he wants to wed Pompeia after this? She isn’t such a girl as would make one desperate. . Aaah!’ He leaned back in his chair again and slapped the desktop with a triumphant smile. ‘Gracchus is desperate for that dowry, isn’t he? I’m only guessing, but I’ll wager he’s in debt.’

I nodded, mentally acknowledging the man’s intelligence.

I realized that Redux was looking expectantly at me. ‘Well, am I right?’ he prompted. ‘Gracchus is in debt? Or don’t you know the answer?’

‘There may be something of the kind, I think. In fact, from something that I overheard, I’m sure of it. Of course he didn’t say as much to me.’

‘I knew it!’ He clapped his pudgy hands. ‘Well, there’s a wonder! Gracchus inherited a fortune only months ago. I wonder how he managed to squander it so fast? Fine living? Or prostitutes? Both of them perhaps. Or betting on the chariot racing on the sly? It only takes a little to get a man in deep. Those moneylenders in the forum are quite merciless.’

I took a risk. ‘You don’t suppose that Antoninus has got his teeth in him as well?’

That shook him. The triumphant manner faded in a trice and Redux glared furiously at me. ‘What do you know about Antoninus? I warned you, citizen. .’ His hand was already moving to the drawer.

I managed to forestall him by leaning forward and saying peaceably, ‘Oh come, citizen, what else am I to think? I don’t know anything about Antoninus, except what I deduce — that he clearly has a hold on you, and probably on several other people in the town. You asked me earlier: “how much does he want”, and that set me thinking, even at the time. It might have just been business — his setting a high price for something you required — so I tested you with that suggestion about Gracchus I just made. And now I’m sure I’m right. After your reaction, what else could it have been? You would have worked it out yourself if you’d been in my place.’

I meant it, but the flattery did its work on him. ‘I suppose it’s possible,’ He was still scowling, but his hand moved from the drawer. ‘My foreman said you mentioned Antoninus in the yard.’

‘Only because he asked me to call on him today — sent a message saying he has important news for me. That is the only communication with him I have ever had, and I have no idea to what it might relate. I know it sounds absurd. But my servant has the writing tablet, you can read it for yourself. I assumed it was something about the poisoning.’

He seized the jug and poured out the last remaining drops of wine, then drank them at a gulp. He hadn’t used the dipper at any point, I saw. He was still frowning. ‘But why should Antoninus send a note to you?’

‘I have asked myself the selfsame question, citizen. I wondered if Gracchus had mentioned me to him, and he’d hoped to impress me for my patron’s sake. He has asked Marcus to propose him to the council, I believe. His Excellency told me so himself, before he left. Though I don’t know what “important information” Antoninus has.’ I felt myself colour. ‘I even wondered if he intended to offer me a bribe.’

A derisive hoot of laughter, louder than the last. ‘Antoninus, offering a bribe to you? I doubt it, citizen. Does an eagle condescend to catch a fly? More likely the information is concerning you, and he is going to propose that if you put in a word for him to Marcus Septimus he will desist from telling your patron what he knows.’ He shook the jug hopefully above the empty cup, but there was not a drop.

‘I see. .’ I said, thoughtfully, searching in my mind for what I might have done. I could not think of anything particular just now, but there are always small infringements which a man can make — not wearing a toga in a public place, or spitting too close to the statue of the Emperor. Or had I said something unwise about my patron, as I had done just now? ‘Antoninus would have made it his business to find out that sort of thing?’

‘Literally his business, pavement-maker,’ Redux said. ‘You clearly have the measure of the man. Antoninus claims to be a fellow trader, and he is too — in a way — but most of his business is the opposite of mine. Where I buy cloaks and dormice and sell them on again, he trades in information, but keeps it to himself. At least, one hopes he does. What’s more, he requires a handsome fee for doing nothing — as it were — and it is a very successful business in all kinds of ways. If times are poor, he simply requires his customers to pay him more than once. You can’t do that with potted dormice, citizen. Sometimes he even puts the price up, the second time around. And — as a rule — his clients simply pay. They’re not usually in a position to complain to the authorities. And, of course, if he does offer normal goods for sale, the same people will pay him anything he asks.’

‘Extortion,’ I said thoughtfully. Marcus would be very interested to hear of that.

‘Or bribery, if you prefer to think of it that way. A mutually profitable arrangement between friends, is how he talks of it. Either way, it’s clever — though not a pleasant trade. And don’t ask me where he gets his information from. I only wish I knew.’ He shook the jug again, and I realized for the first time that he was becoming slightly drunk.

Otherwise, perhaps, I would not have dared to ask him, as I did, ‘And what is it that he knows about you, citizen?’

For a moment he looked tense, and then he slowly smiled. ‘You’d hardly expect me to tell you that. You are clever, pavement-maker, I concede. You’ve already got far more information from me than I meant. But I’ve paid Antoninus money to keep my secret safe, and I’m certainly not about to share it openly with you. In any case, it is a purely private matter, nothing to do with Honorius’s death.’ The plump face creased into a humourless, wry grin. ‘Although, of course, I’d always be likely to say that, wouldn’t I? You will simply have to take my word for it. And that is all I’m going to tell you on the subject, citizen.’

‘You don’t think Antoninus will tell me what it is? It might be the very information he was going to offer me.’

That troubled him a moment, but not for long. ‘I doubt that, citizen. But I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll accompany you to Antoninus’s dwelling place myself, and whatever he has to tell you, he can tell us both.’ He could see that I was about to refuse his company, and he tapped the desktop sharply with his fingertips as if to remind me of what was in the drawer. ‘It might be to your advantage, citizen, to have me come along. If he has found out from Gracchus that you’re investigating this, I wouldn’t go there wholly unprotected if I was you. Especially if he turns out to be in any way involved.’

‘And you think he might be?’

‘Nothing would surprise me, where Antoninus is concerned. He did have business dealings with Honorius — and I happen to know that he was there last night. I think I mentioned that I called round there myself, and I saw Antoninus skulking in the street, though he did not see me and I didn’t speak to him — for reasons obvious. I generally try to avoid Antoninus in public if I can.’

I frowned. ‘But surely Honorius was a stickler for the law, and is famous for living a life beyond reproach? Antoninus couldn’t possibly have had a hold on him?’

Redux stood up and went across to where his toga was. ‘I don’t know, pavement-maker, I honestly don’t know. A man who makes a public show of high morality is always very vulnerable if he does do something wrong, especially if he is a well-known councillor, and urges harsh punishment for other people’s crimes. On the other hand, Antoninus does sell some proper merchandise as well — he would not last very long if that were not the case — and it might be clever for him to engage in simple trade with someone as well known for probity as Honorius.’

I got to my feet. It was clear this interview was almost at an end, but there were things that I still wanted to ask him while we were alone. I hastened to agree with the last thing he’d said — that often makes people more inclined to talk. ‘I see what you mean,’ I said, respectfully. ‘It makes Antoninus seem respectable so people are not ashamed to be known to deal with him.’

He nodded. ‘And apart from his victims, nobody would guess where he really gets his money from. A sort of double bluff, like men who play at dice honestly declaring what numbers they have rolled — until the moment that they choose to pounce.’ He raised his fingers to his mouth and made a whistling sound — rather as I’ve heard Marcus summoning a dog.

The skinny slave came running from the room next door. ‘You want me, master?’

‘Help me with my toga.’ He raised his arms and let his servant wrap the garment on, folding and tucking until just the end was left. Redux took that and draped it round his arm — suddenly the very picture of wealthy elegance. ‘I am going to accompany this citizen into town — just as soon as I have fixed the price of salt. Fetch my foreman and have him come in here.’

The slave said nothing, but bowed himself away. Redux went over to the desk and took out a small knife in a leather case. ‘In case I should be called upon to dine,’ he said, giving me a wicked little smile. ‘I wouldn’t dream of carrying a weapon in the streets. That would be illegal.’ He attached the knife case deftly to his belt where it was hidden by his toga-folds. ‘But enough to give Antoninus pause, if he tries to threaten us. If he has one weakness, it is cowardice.’

‘If Honorius had a weakness. .’ I was still following my earlier train of thought. ‘What do you guess that it would be?’

He shrugged, and began to rifle through the tallies on his desk. ‘I don’t know, citizen. Works of art, perhaps? The lady Livia? His family honour, even — he has killed for that.’

‘So, to protect his mother?’

He was scratching something on a tablet with a stylus now. ‘He might be persuaded to do something foolish, I suppose. But I’m not sure of that. She was always domineering and wanting her own way, and since he defied her and married Livia, relationships between them have been distinctly cool. And I don’t think she’s forgiven him for Honoria’s death — whatever she may say about that publicly. Honoria was her favourite grandchild after all.’

‘And what about Pompeia?’

That hooting laugh again. ‘Oh, the would-be bride? She was the younger daughter and of no account. Everyone ignored her, except Honoria, and after her sister’s execution she was heartbroken. Helena Domna never spoke to her, except to use her like a slave — order her about and find fault with what she did. Livia was quite kind to her in a vague, general sort of way, but she would do the same for a beggar at the gate — it wasn’t for Pompeia in particular. I rather think that’s what prompted the child to make that pathetic so-called “confession” when her father died — and don’t pretend that you were taken in by it. What did it turn out to be — she’d called down a curse on him?’

‘Not even anything as definite as that. She had simply appealed to the gods to be released.’

He smoothed out what he’d been writing, with the stylus. ‘Well, there you are. Unless you think she made a point of confessing to all that, to disguise the fact that she had secretly poisoned her father all along? I don’t think she has the subtlety for that. I think she wanted some attention for a change — and I’m not surprised.’

‘She might have been better getting married then.’

He looked up from his task. ‘Not to Gracchus, pavement-maker. Not if she wanted to be of some account. Gracchus likes his wine and dancing girls and doesn’t care who knows — a wife is just for breeding in his view of things. I think Pompeia knew that — she is not a fool. I used to tell Zythos that he would have a chance with her, but he wasn’t interested.’

Zythos. Again there was that suspicion of emotion at the name. I made a sudden guess. ‘You encouraged him to marry? But surely, you were attached to him yourself.’

He had turned the colour of his tasselled shoes. ‘Who told you, citizen?’

‘Your own tone of voice.’

He turned away from me and stared out of the window hole towards the dock. ‘Is it so obvious? Well, citizen, there is no shame in it. He was so beautiful he was loved by everyone: pages, married women, councillors — they all flung themselves at him. I could not expect to have him solely to myself — and besides he was a Greek by birth. They have a different philosophy from us — men for pleasure, women for the race.’

‘Not unlike Gracchus’s attitude in fact?’ I said, ungraciously.

‘Except that Zythos would always have been charming to a wife, and Gracchus is a boor. Pompeia would have been ideal for him in many ways — she can be amusing when she puts her mind to it — but, as I say he wasn’t interested. I rather think he may have had his eye on someone else, but — for once — he wouldn’t tell me who.’ He stared at something imaginary in the sky. ‘I found a poem he had written on a tablet, once: “To my fair-haired beauty.” I think that at last he had truly lost his heart. It was not to me.’

‘And it was not Honoria, you are sure of that?’

‘As certain as I can be. Although Honoria was by far the prettier of the two, she was still dark and dumpy — like her father was.’

‘Of course.’ I remembered the swarthy councillor as I had seen him once on the steps of the basilica.

‘And she had his temperament — all prim morality. She would never have demeaned herself, as she would think of it. She was devoted to my brother — and he was fond of her. As these things go, it had worked out very well. Besides she’d just announced she was with child, and Zythos regarded that as sacrosanct. He would never have forced himself upon a woman — I am sure of that — especially a member of my family. More likely he was after one of the maids, that night, or one of my brother’s little serving boys.’

‘So what was he doing in Honoria’s sleeping room?’

‘I imagine that he found himself surprised, felt that he’d dishonoured me and my family by the act and simply rushed into the nearest room to hide. And then Honorius came in.’ He snapped the tablet shut. ‘But we will never know. If there was an explanation, Honorius would not hear. But, enough of that. Here comes my foreman. It is time to buy some salt, and then I’ll come with you and we’ll pay that little call.’