It was my turn to groan inwardly by now. Stealing from the Emperor was a capital offence — and Commodus had perfected some interesting deaths for people who had recently offended him. One bald man, for instance, who had spoken out of turn had been smeared with honey, had worms stuck to his head, and been tied to a post and pecked to death by crows — or so rumour had it. What would he do to someone who had stolen treasures from his house?
The commander had more pressing questions on his mind. ‘And Honorius knew its provenance?’
‘I think he must have done, to pay that price for it — though I have no proof of that. But somehow Antoninus managed to find out that I had made the sale. And he demanded a huge sum from me — far more than the profit that I would have made, in fact. I had to pay, of course. The Emperor has spies in this colonia, as he does everywhere. If the stolen statue could be traced to me. .’ He trailed off, obviously realizing the awful truth of this.
‘But how did Antoninus come to learn of it?’ the commander’s voice was grim.
Redux shook his head. ‘That’s what I’d like to know. I’m not even certain exactly what he knew, except that the statue had been shipped from Rome — and that Zythos had been responsible for arranging it. He had some paper that proved it all, he said — and if I refused to pay, he threatened to take it to the magistrates. He would never let me see the document close to, though he held it in his hand and used to taunt me with it when I went to visit him.’
‘And you couldn’t find it when you searched the papers on his desk today?’ I said.
I think that Redux had half-forgotten me. He whirled now with sudden fury on his face, and I thought for a moment that he would lay hands on me, but all of a sudden his shoulders drooped and he said, sullenly, ‘You realized that I was doing that? Well, I won’t deny it. I did look for it. But it wasn’t there — nothing that could possibly relate to any part of it.’ He looked discomfited. ‘I wish I’d had the chance to look inside the scroll jars, too — though it was only written on a little piece of bark.’
‘Like the ones that he was working with?’ I said.
‘Exactly. But when I first got there and found him lying dead, I was too shocked to think of anything like that. I didn’t think of searching through the items on the desk until you were with me — and then I couldn’t do it openly, of course.’
‘So it wasn’t you that burnt things on the brazier?’ I asked.
‘I didn’t know that anybody had. I suppose you might be trusted to notice such a thing.’
‘Answer the question,’ the commander snapped, and I was coward enough to feel relieved. I’d become part of the interrogation now.
Redux gave a shamefaced shrug. ‘I might have thought of setting fire to it, if I had found it, I suppose — but I was far too slow. I told you, I didn’t even manage to locate the document.’
‘So it must be still there somewhere?’ the commander said.
Redux’s plump face looked ashen now. ‘That’s what worries me. I could not find it, even though I searched. I hope it hasn’t fallen into someone else’s hands. Though probably it wouldn’t mean a lot to anybody else. It can only be a note or a receipt, I think — unless he managed to find something indiscreet that Zythos wrote, perhaps to a ship-master or even to the thief. But I can’t imagine why that would mention me, I didn’t know anything about that end of it. Yet the document would ruin me, so Antoninus said. I only wish I knew exactly what it was.’
‘I shall have my soldiers search the premises, and bring everything to me.’ The commander rose abruptly to his feet. ‘From what you tell me, an examination of his records should prove educational — perhaps about a number of people in the town. As for you-’
But he got no further, a sudden clatter of hobnails on the stairs, and the tribune appeared looking flushed and cross. ‘Permission to report? The salver that you speak of has just been brought in now, and the soldier who brought it wants to speak to you. He refuses to part with it without seeing the receipt — he said there was promise of a fee for it. And there is another person asking for you at the gate — a woman with two slaves. The witness that this pavement-maker called on, I believe.’
The commander nodded. ‘We’ll see the woman first. You can show her up and tell the man I’ll see him afterwards. As quickly as you can.’ And the tribune, to his chagrin, had yet another ignominious descent downstairs to make.
Eighteen
I had expected to see Helena Domna at the door but it was Livia who was shown into the room. She wore a long, dark-hooded cloak over her mourning robes, and beneath the hood the veil was double draped across her face — as befitted a new widow in a public place — so one could not see her features; but despite the drapery, the plump little figure was unmistakable. She was accompanied by her pageboy, and by Pulchra too — their tunics now bearing a dark band around the hem and neck. Minimus came in behind them, slightly out of breath.
‘This is the person that I spoke of, sir,’ the tribune said, as though the slaves did not exist at all — which I suppose they didn’t in his view of things.
The commander nodded. ‘Thank you, officer. I will call you if I need you. Wait below.’ And the poor fellow had to trot all the way downstairs again, looking as discomfited as a chastised child. I could almost feel a little sorry for the man.
Livia stepped forward, and lifted up the veil as if in this dim light she found it difficult to see. The action revealed that she had smeared her brow and hair with dust and ashes, as good widows did, but her face was still attractive, though it was strained and white. In fact, she looked so visibly distressed that even the commander was moved to a kind of awkward gallantry.
‘Madam citizen!’ He smiled encouragingly at her.
She gave an uncertain little smile in return, then bowed her head as modesty required. After a moment she said in a small voice, ‘Gentlemen, I understand that you have asked for me, and so in obedience to the law I’ve come — though I am in mourning for my husband, as I am sure you know, and by tradition I should not leave the house.’
Pulchra tutted. ‘The poor lamb only had an open litter too — all she could find in time — though perhaps it’s just as well. It meant I saw her passing, in the marketplace. It shocked me, dreadfully.’ She glowered at me. ‘I hope it’s important, now you’ve dragged her here. With her husband lying dead! You’ve only got to look at her to see that she’s upset.’
‘Hush, Pulchra!’ It was obvious that Livia was very close to tears. ‘I’m sorry, citizens. My servant means no disrespect to you. I’d sent her to the silversmith to buy this locket ring — ’ she held out her hand for me to see the ring that she was wearing on the fourth finger of her hand, the one that sages say connects directly to the heart — ‘and when she saw me she insisted on accompanying me here.’
I found it somehow touching that she should wear a mourning ornament like that. Granted that it was becoming the custom nowadays, that ring had been almost the first thing that she’d thought of sending for.
I smiled at her, and it seemed to give her heart. ‘So citizens, what is it that I can do for you?’
The commander said formally, ‘Libertus will explain.’
She turned to me. ‘Of course, I will help you in any way I can, but I am sorry I must ask you to be as swift as possible. I must return to take my place at the lament.’
She sounded so tearful I was instantly contrite. ‘I’m truly sorry to have dragged you here at such a time. I had expected to have Helena Domna come, if anyone. I was hoping that she would agree to testify on my account. There was a writing tablet which arrived for me today, while I was in your home. Your mother-in-law saw it, and read the message too — so she could have confirmed my own account of it. But I’m not sure you can. I hope we have not taken you unnecessarily away from the rituals which you should perform.’