A Whispering of Spies

FIVE

I had half-expected to find that it was Brianus outside — it would not have surprised me if he had found some excuse to scurry back to us — but in fact it was the servant of the wealthy customer who had commissioned the mosaic that we’d been working on. I did not recognize the man, but I knew the uniform: the crimson cloak could only mean this was a senior slave. I knew what that meant — or I thought I did.

Florens, the town councillor, was an important man and if he had sent his prized servant out in all this rain, just to check on progress, it could only be because he thought the work would not be done in time for his impending marriage. He was preparing to impose that penalty — just as I had feared!

He had not left me a shadow of excuse. He’d done his best to facilitate the work: his servants had already prepared the site for it — a shady corner of the garden at his country house, which had been dug and cleared and provided with a roof, ready to become the summer dining-room. Even the weather could not be argued as much reason for delay. So I was relieved that we had an almost-finished article to show.

I was already talking as I ushered the visitor inside and showed him the prefabricated work. ‘As you can see, we have made this section here. It’s upside down on that thin skim of plaster, which is easily removed, so now we can attach it to a firmer backing piece which will keep the tesserae in place. Then we can slide the whole thing on to a carrying board and leave it there to dry while we come out and put the final touches to the place where it’s to go.’ I knew that I was gushing but I could not help myself. ‘We should be out with you tomorrow or the next day — if it’s fine — to smooth out the rubble and start putting down cement.’ He was still frowning so I essayed a little smile. ‘I assure you that it will be ready before the wedding day.’

The servant waved my eager explanations to one side. ‘I’m sure that my master is expecting nothing less! But that is not why he has sent me here. You have heard about the pillaging of Voluus’s cart?’ His manner and the question were extremely brusque.

I gaped at him. ‘Who told you about that?’ Behind me I heard Junio’s sharp intake of breath and young Minimus was standing as if turned to stone.

‘My master heard it at the garrison.’ The visitor gave me a look of ill-disguised disdain. ‘And clearly you have heard about it, too — though not from there, I think. Of course it was unlikely to remain a secret long — a bloodstained cart found standing in the road with a dismembered driver and a slaughtered guard is certain to attract attention in the end. And naturally the contents of the cart have gone — as I’m sure that you are aware, since you visited the lictor’s new apartment earlier.’

I suppose that I really should not have been surprised. I knew how quickly rumours in this town could spread — I had been warning people of this very fact myself — but I stood there boggling. Not so much that news of the robbery had spread, but that anybody should have noticed me! Who could have done so, except perhaps the people that I passed through on the stairs? And why was that of interest anyway?

Florens’s servant misinterpreted the pause. ‘Don’t bother to deny it. You were seen to come and go, and I have reason to believe that you had scarcely left the flat before a slave-boy from the household was sent here after you.’

I shook my head. The question of denial had not crossed my mind. ‘I do not contest that I visited the house. Surely there is nothing noteworthy in that?’

‘Beyond the fact that you are the only person from the town to call at the new apartment and be allowed inside?’ He was already taking off his cloak, and — uninvited and with as much assurance as if he were a councillor himself — handing it to an astonished Minimus to hold. ‘Though perhaps you were expected? It is quite evident, since Voluus is not here, that your business was with the steward of the house.’

‘My business was not with anyone in particular. I called at the apartment to enquire if Voluus wanted a mosaic made — though obviously that meant that I spoke to Calvinus. My patron was good enough to send a note with me, recommending my services.’ I was uneasy now. There was something in his manner which disturbed me very much. ‘Though who might have noticed me, I cannot understand. A trademan’s movements are hardly of much concern to anyone.’

The servant almost smiled. As he moved, his scarlet tunic gave off wafts of perfumed oils. ‘Perhaps you should not be too confident about that, citizen. Several people are prepared to swear they saw you there, immediately after the robbery was known. What is more, it seems that you were welcomed in — though previous would-be visitors had all been turned away.’ He had stripped off his leather mittens — a winter luxury which was presumably a sign of household rank — and began to tap them rhythmically against his open palm. ‘You are said to be a solver of mysteries, I think, so — if you were in my place — would you not think that very interesting? And also that this steward, whom you claim you have never met before today, is none the less a person whom you can call by name?’

‘But. .’ I protested.

A gesture cut me off. ‘And would you not be more interested still in the extraordinary fact that, immediately after a second message reached the house, this same Calvinus thought it fit to send a courier to you? If you did not know him, why should he do that? My master and some of his fellow councillors would be interested to know.’

It had taken me some moments to realize his drift, but all at once I understood what this was leading to. ‘You can’t mean that your master thinks I am involved in this?’ I was too startled even to expostulate. ‘I did not even know the cart was on its way. What’s more, I’ve never met the lictor in my life.’

‘Then why were you asking questions of everyone today — including questions about the treasure on the carts?’

I spread my hands in a gesture of despair. ‘I was attempting to find out what sort of man he was, that’s all.’ I was tempted to tell him the other part of it — that I was only doing it on Marcus’s behalf — but decided that discretion was the wiser choice.

The servant’s smile was disbelieving and disagreeable. ‘Indeed? And does enquiry about his valuable possessions tell you that? You can’t pretend, for instance, that there is any doubt about whether he could afford your services — not when he has taken an apartment on that scale! Which brings us to another suggestive circumstance. You had not, by your own admission, ever called there before. Yet there you are today — the very day on which the theft occurred.’

‘Surely it’s more likely that the cart was set upon last night and not discovered until daylight came?’ I said, then devoutly wished I’d held my tongue. I could imagine how our visitor would construe my foolish words.

I was right. He raised an eyebrow. ‘You might be a better judge of that than I!’

‘That is merely a guess that anyone might make. We know that there are active bandits in those woods. At least I assume it was in that area,’ I burbled, ‘since I understand the cart was coming from the south.’

‘Exactly so! And don’t you live in that direction, too?’ He smiled his knowing smile. ‘But then, of course, this was not just a robbery: there are several savage murders to be considered, too — all of them no doubt committed, as you rightly say, under cover of darkness and discovered after dawn. Though very few people ever travel after dusk. Amazing that you seem to know so much about it, citizen.’

‘It was merely guesswork. .’ I was beginning to protest.

‘Naturally! But suggestive, don’t you think? Especially in the light of all the other things I’ve pointed out. Of course this may all be mere coincidence but Florens and some of the other councillors would like to talk to you and have you explain it, if you are able to.’

I glanced at my son and servant who were standing by, as appalled as I was by this development. I murmured, ‘They want to see me now? But I have work to finish here and I am due to report to my patron in just an hour or two. .’ I trailed off in dismay.

In my attempts to justify myself I was in danger of implicating Marcus Septimus as well. Indeed, as I realized with a sinking of the heart, this was possibly the purpose of this whole interview. Marcus, like any wealthy magistrate, has powerful enemies who would be delighted to see him humbled and brought before the courts: it had actually happened once before.

Perhaps I had unwittingly given a new pretext. As it was, I had already admitted that I was carrying a letter from my patron when I called at the flat. That clearly suggested that I was there on his behalf, and it was difficult to see how that could be disproved, because it was the truth. So if I were accused of involvement in the crime, he would seem guilty of complicity at least. I sincerely wished that I hadn’t mentioned him.

But it was far too late to keep him out of this. The servant smiled. ‘Of course, we know you are the protégé of Marcus Septimus,’ he said. ‘And we are aware that His Excellence is an important man. That is why my master has sent me here to ask you politely if you’ll accompany me. At once, if possible. He is waiting for us at the curia. However, if you are reluctant to comply with this request, I could go back and summon the town guard and have you formally arrested — as we would have done with anybody else who could not claim such exalted patronage.’

Junio stepped forward to speak in my defence. ‘Now look here, serving-man, I don’t know who you are. .’

I raised my hand to silence him. It is never wise to make unnecessary enemies — especially the servants of a magistrate. ‘It is all right, Junio. This man is merely doing what he was sent to do. Of course I will go with him. There must be some mistake. My patron knows what I was doing at the lictor’s house and no doubt he will speak up in my defence. The sooner I get this sorted out, the sooner we get home.’

Junio looked doubtful. ‘Well, Father, if you’re certain I will say no more. Though if you wish I will go with you to the curia.’

Florens’s servant gave him a disdainful look. ‘You’re lucky that you’ve not been asked to come in any case. We know of your close association with this pavement-maker here, and therefore it is likely that you are involved in this yourself, though at present no one is accusing you. But there are many ways of finding out the truth — as you may discover, to your cost.’

It was my turn to leap to Junio’s defence. ‘Are you presuming to make veiled threats against my son? Be careful what you say. He is a citizen.’

A shrug of the shoulders, but my words had hit their mark. A sudden alarm had flashed up in the eyes and his manner was less haughty and hostile as he said hastily, ‘I am not threatening anyone at all! Especially not a citizen; I know the law. I thought he was merely a manumitted slave. But I should not care to be in your sandals when the lictor gets here, either of you, I can tell you that.’

‘Then, Father, I must certainly come with you to the curia,’ Junio said. ‘Minimus can shut up the shop and douse the fire and then come and meet us in the forum later on.’

Our visitor looked icily at him. ‘And what about my master’s pavement? I believe you said that there was work remaining to be done? Or would you rather he invoked the penalty?’

Junio looked at me, exasperation written in every lineament. ‘What do you think, Father?’

There was only one thing I could possibly reply. ‘There is not a great deal remaining to be done, but — since we are certainly not in receipt of stolen gold — we can’t afford to risk the fine. You stay and finish that with Minimus, and then the pair of you can come and find me later on. You know where I shall be. In the meantime, I will do as I am asked and go and speak to Florens, though there is obviously nothing I can tell him which he does not know. Minimus, hand me down my cloak and give this servant his.’

Minimus is a timid person as a rule but I was amused to note that he took enormous care to wrap me in my cape and fuss around me making sure that I was dry — or as dry as possible in the circumstances — while he handed our visitor his wet wrap without a word and made no attempt at all to help him on with it.

‘Very well,’ I said, once the man had struggled into it. ‘Let us go and see these councillors. You can lead the way.’ And I followed him briskly out on to the street.