‘As far as you remember?’ quipped Philadelphion. Clearly he too had a sense of humour. Aulus acknowledged the comment with another relaxed grin, and sat down again. ‘Since he was the honoured guest, we presume Theon would have been served as much as he wanted. A witness says his behaviour seemed unexceptional. So if he regularly over-drank,’ Philadelphion suggested, ‘this was done in private. Secret drinking, particularly when it has not been the drinker’s prior custom, is to be regarded as significant. I referred earlier to Theon seeming preoccupied, and this would reinforce my remark that he may have been experiencing mental anguish of some kind. Why am I concentrating on this supposition? Because in his stomach and oesophagus were intriguing remains - something he had eaten or drunk later than his dinner. I have saved samples, which I shall be discussing with our botanist colleagues. It is plant material, apparently leaves, and perhaps seeds. I am qualified to comment on the circumstances, inasmuch as we at the zoo examine animals - our own or those that are brought to us - animals that die when they have eaten poisoned feed. I recognise similarities.’
This caused a stir. Someone asked quickly, ‘When you began the necropsy, were you anticipating poison?’
‘It was always a possibility. Those of you who are alert will have noticed the body was unclothed. Normally in such a case, examining the clothes worn at the time of death would be part of the initial procedure. On this occasion Chaereas and Chaeteas had removed the tunic for aesthetic reasons; there was vomit present. I examined it prior to the necropsy’
‘Did you find more plant material?’
‘Yes. Given that Theon had eaten well already, if he was poisoned I doubt he had unwisely picked and chewed some foliage he passed by, daydreaming. So, if he ingested this plant material while he sat at his table, and if he did so voluntarily, then we must decide he was so troubled in his mind, he committed suicide. Otherwise -’ For the only time that afternoon Philadelphion paused dramatically. ‘Otherwise someone else gave him the poison. If they knew what they were giving him - and why do it unless they knew? - then for reasons we cannot immediately say, our Librarian was murdered.’
XIII
The reaction lasted some minutes. During the uproar, as men turned to each other and exchanged ideas excitedly, I slipped from my seat and walked down to the central area.
‘Philadelphion, greetings and congratulations on your work today. My name is Didius Falco -’
‘The Emperor’s man!’
I raised an eyebrow. He must have seen there was a stranger in the audience - nothing wrong with his vision; those large, good-looking eyes could do both close focus and distance - but this was inside knowledge. ‘You heard I was coming?’
Silver-haired and svelte, the handsome lecturer smiled. ‘This is Alexandria.”
The noise was dying down. Questions were now being put to Philadelphion, including ‘Why would Theon have been locked in?’
Philadelphion raised his hands for hush. ‘Answering this is not in my remit. But here is the Prefect’s special investigator - Falco, do you mind? - who may be able to explain more.’
I noticed he did not identify me as coming from Rome, Vespasian’s agent. Nice courtesy
Philadelphion withdrew to a seat, leaving me unexpectedly with the floor.
‘My name is Didius Falco. As Philadelphion said, I have been asked to run the enquiry into Theon’s death. You have all been sitting here a good while, and what we have seen was harrowing, so I won’t prolong the agony. But I am glad to introduce myself. While we are all together here, may I ask that if any of you know anything useful about what happened, please see me privately as soon as possible.’
There was some shuffling, as people who had never helped a law and order investigation before looked nervous. I dealt with some low levels of society where everyone knew all too well how it worked. I
had to remind myself there were polite circles where the witnesses would feel uncertain what was expected of them.
‘One of you just asked: why would Theon have been locked in? His room, which I have seen, can only be locked from outside. So if he committed suicide, that locked door is odd. If he was murdered, it makes sense; it would ensure he could not seek help before any poison took effect. Philadelphion, did your examination give any clues to the length of time between ingestion and death?’
He did not trouble to rise but answered, ‘No; it depends what the poison was. I hope to find out more tomorrow. Plant poisons can take from minutes to several hours, or sometimes days.’
‘Long-acting ones are less attractive both to murderers and suicides,” I commented.
‘Is there not another possibility?’ asked a bright-looking youth at the side of the room. ‘That the leaves and seeds could have been eaten by Theon in the hope they would be an antidote to some other poison?’
Philadelphion turned in his seat. ‘That, too, will depend upon identification - assuming it is possible.’
The lad was in his stride. ‘Theon might not even have swallowed any poison, merely feared he had. The antidote leaves might then themselves have caused more reaction than he wanted -’ This young man had a vigorous imagination, the type that likes things really complicated.
‘I shall bear those factors in mind,’ replied Philadelphion patiently.
We were starting to go around in circles. I intervened. ‘Now listen - it’s late, we are all exhausted. I am satisfied that Philadelphion’s excellent examination has isolated a substance that could well have killed Theon. Without proper identification, further speculation this evening is pointless. Know when to let things take their time,’ I warned, taking the role of a hoary professional. ’Let me say this. Even if Theon killed himself, somebody else locked the door on him. I want to know who, and why. I need any information you can give me. Who saw it happen? Who saw anybody going to see Theon? It has been suggested he was anxious recently. Who knows why? Who talked to him and heard him let slip some worry about his health, his work, his private life? And, if there was foul play here, who was his enemy? Who was jealous? Who wanted his research, his written treatise, his unique collection of black-figure vases, the mistress he kept secretly or the mistress he stole from somebody else and flaunted openly? . . .’ Philadelphion gave me a bright look, as if he was shocked by the suggestion. Aeacidas and Apollophanes were half laughing; Theon was definitely not a ladies’ man. ‘Who wanted his job?’ I asked in a neutral tone. Now that could be more than one person present.
Nobody volunteered answers. That would come later, if I was fortunate. I knew they would hotly debate the questions. I knew people might start sneaking up to me from tomorrow - possibly even tonight. Some would want to help, some would want attention, some would undoubtedly be keen to dish dirt on their esteemed academic colleagues.
Philadelphion and I made it clear the meeting was to break up. I invited him home with me to dinner; he said he had a prior engagement in a private house. It must have been with established friends because he invited me to go along with him. By then I needed to go home to reassure Helena. Aulus and I took his young friend Heras with us.
When we left the Museion building, we had lost all sense of time and space. The necropsy had been so intense we felt we had been in another world.
Out of doors, the sky still retained some light, but darkness was steadily falling. It increased our feeling that we had been rapt for much longer than a few hours. We were drained. We were hungry. We were overwhelmed.
The audience dispersed quickly. Many of the others were hurrying off to the refectory. Some were in small groups, though a surprising number went alone. Scholars seemed to huddle into themselves more than people in most large groups.