Sollers said nothing, but continued his slow backward progress. He was going to get to Junio too soon.
I took a step forward. And another. We were only inches apart. The knife went up and there were two nicks in Maximilian’s chin. Sollers, I knew, would not hesitate to use the knife on me. I thought desperately. ‘And Julia,’ I said urgently, ‘what shall I say to her?’
For a moment, he halted. ‘Julia!’ he said. ‘I thought I was to be the other man — her next husband. The old hag lying there had said as much. I was to make my fortune and Julia would find another man waiting for her. I did not know then that this young fool — ’ he jerked the knife again ‘- had bribed the woman and told her what to say.’
‘She only told you. .’ Maximilian began, but Sollers gave his arms a savage upward twist and he subsided into silence.
‘It does not matter now,’ the medicus said. ‘I hoped for riches and a lovely wife, but I am content to leave here with my life. I have skills. I can set up somewhere else. And you will not prevent me.’ He glanced at the guardsman who was still carrying his sword. ‘And do not doubt me, soldier. I will use the knife. I have nothing now to lose.’
The two guards exchanged glances. I could see what they were thinking. Maximilian’s life was a reasonable exchange for the capture of Sollers. Maximilian saw it too, because he began to sweat. He was too terrified to cry out, but the moisture stood on his brow and his legs trembled.
Sollers paused again. It was a moment only, but it was enough. Junio had raised the stone and threw it with a thump upon the grass. Sollers turned at the sound.
I lunged forward, seizing with both hands the wrist that held the knife and twisting it with all my force. Sollers turned back to me, striking down at my hands, but he could not fight me one-handed.
Maximilian struggled out of his grasp, and Sollers, with a swift movement, whipped up his other hand and seized the knife. I ducked aside as he brought it down and the blade brushed my cheek. I felt the rush of it, and saw blood on the blade, but there was no pain.
He raised the knife again. The soldiers were now storming down the bank, but I knew with a terrible certainty that they would be too late for me. And there was no hope from Maximilian. He was sitting on the grass, whimpering like a child.
Sollers had seized my toga now, and his grip was like an iron band. I felt, rather than saw, the blade flash down and rip apart the cloth under my arm. Again, if I had not moved in time I would have been a dead man. But I am old, and he was strong. I could not keep this up much longer.
Something small and determined caught him round the legs. Junio has not much weight but his teeth are sharp, and he had the advantage of surprise. Sollers stepped backwards in alarm, and his foot found the hole in the culvert. His leg crumpled under him, and he toppled into the stream with a cry.
By the time the soldiers had marched him back to Corinium his foot was swollen like a pig’s bladder.
They locked him in the attics. No blankets or bread and cheese for him. The soldiers had bound his hands and wrists, and they threw him down on the mattress and left him there, while they sent out to find Marcus who was still wandering aimlessly in his litter somewhere, since he had no idea of what direction we had taken.
Myself, I went to Maximilian’s apartment. It did not take me long to find what I sought, roughly concealed under the floorboards. A small drawstring pouch of leather, slashed around the neck. I took it up and put it in my toga. I would show it to Marcus when they brought him home.
In fact, he arrived shortly afterwards of his own accord, cold and cross but sober. One of the watch had told him of our return. He arrayed himself for the funeral and sent for me at once in the study.
It was strange, being there again as the lamps were lit, while outside in the courtyard the funeral procession was gathering. We stood at the door and watched the first part of the procession assemble: Quintus, resplendent on his bier, with the torch-bearers each holding his flaming fax, and the professional mourners forming up behind.
Marcus looked at me. ‘So,’ he said, ‘are you going to explain this to me? I assume you must be right to accuse Sollers, or he would not have tried to abduct Maximilian and kill you, but I confess I do not understand it at all. And what is that you have in your hand?’
I put it on the table. ‘It is the purse that was stolen from Quintus, Excellence. I found it just now, in Maximilian’s room.’
He looked at me coldly. ‘Is that important? I suppose Maximilian hid it there, after the robbery.’
‘On the contrary, Excellence. Maximilian had no idea it was there. He didn’t care who searched his room. I’m convinced that Sollers put it there, and invited me to find it. It is the final piece of evidence against him.’
‘Where did Sollers get it from?’
‘From the soothsayer, I imagine. Maximilian gave it to her to get rid of it. You should have seen how he blanched when Sollers threw him a similar one, earlier.’
Marcus looked stony. ‘Pavement-maker,’ he said, ‘are you going to explain this to me? And quickly? I am supposed to attend a funeral. In an official capacity. Julia has asked me — as her sponsor — to make an oration. The musicians are already tuning up their instruments.’ He sounded both pompous and impatient. My patron was not easy to talk to in this mood. ‘So tell me, why should a doctor, who has every chance to kill a man discreetly, suddenly plunge a vulgar dagger into his victim’s back? I should have expected Sollers, of all people, to be subtle.’
I said humbly, ‘Exactly, Excellence. And that of course is the answer. Sollers relied on anyone of intelligence to think the same. And he could always point it out himself. Because he had such perfect opportunities to kill his patient in other ways, it was absurd that he should stab Quintus so crudely. That was exactly what Sollers intended us to think. It probably was the most subtle way of all.’
‘I see.’
‘He hoped, of course, that blame would fall on Maximilian. He had discovered that Maximilian arranged the first attack. We were supposed to find the “proof”, and if we made enquiries we would learn the truth — Maximilian could hardly disprove that, since it was true. And then, of course, it would seem that Maximilian did the second stabbing too. Sollers did all he could to have Maximilian accused, and he might have succeeded, too, except that foolish Lupus wandered into the reception room and got Quintus’s blood on his sleeve.’
We were interrupted by a howling wail. The front gates opened and the pall-bearers took up the litter on their shoulders. The instruments struck up dolefully. The procession had begun.
‘You had better go, Excellence.’
‘In a moment,’ Marcus said. ‘They can’t start without me. I want to understand. When did you begin to suspect?’
‘Sollers suggested the solution himself. Sollers said that perhaps Maximilian’s crassness was a bluff. Maximilian did not have the intellect to bluff like that, but Sollers did. Who was more obvious than Sollers, when you consider it? He was in the ante-room. He arranged that the daggers should be placed on the table — where of course he could easily obtain them. Who suggested that the last two clients should be sent away so that Quintus could “rest”? Sollers. Who sent away the servants from the room? Sollers. Who had blood upon his clothes even before he examined the corpse? Sollers. I even mentioned it to him. But he had bled Quintus earlier, so he had an answer.’
‘When he bled Quintus, he had him alone in the room. Why didn’t he kill him then?’
‘Because then it would have been clear who’d done it. But he was preparing for the murder, even then. By bleeding Quintus he drew off a lot of blood, so that there was much less spurting later. It is a well-known medical trick. He described it to us himself. In fact, I think Quintus was being bled when he died.’