I told Myla Polycarpus was dead. She responded quite aggressively. ‘I hope you’re not saying I had anything to do with that!’

‘Well, did you?’ asked Titianus, unmoved.

‘How could I, when I’m in here all day with the little one and with all the jobs I have to do?’

I managed not to snort.

‘So is it right, you were here talking to that half-baked boy Cosmus?’ Titianus persisted.

‘Cosmus is all right.’

‘He behaves like a spook, who doesn’t know who he’s supposed to be haunting. Answer the question, Myla.’

‘We were here, I suppose. I don’t know. I don’t know when it was, do I?’

‘An hour ago, or less,’ I said, joining in, hoping to speed up the agony.

‘Well, Cosmus came in for a bite of lunch.’

‘Does he not get fed at home?’

‘Yes, but he comes down to see me sometimes. When he wants to chat.’

‘What do you chat about?’

‘Anything.’

‘Such as?’

‘He says what he wants to. He’s a sad boy.’

‘Why is he sad?’

‘He doesn’t know how to be happy.’

That was a conversation-stopper.

I started to rustle up lunch for myself, inviting Titianus to share. A true vigilis, he asked if I had anything to drink and when I said no, he went off to buy something from the bar. By the time he returned, carrying two full beakers on a rocky take-out tray, I had laid a portable table with snacks in the courtyard. The two chairs were still there.

He apologised if he had been a long time. ‘That place opposite serves sewer silt. I had to walk down to the other one. I met an old codger who wanted to talk about Polycarpus. Nothing pertaining to the death, but the old fellow would go on. Apparently the steward was very friendly.’

‘His modus,’ I said. ‘He kept in with everyone around here. I can imagine he would generously share some listening time with a maundering grandfather – though when he had had enough, I bet Polycarpus also knew how to go on his way without causing offence.’

‘I never seem to manage that,’ Titianus confided. He spoke with an innocence that reminded me of my late husband.

‘It’s a knack.’ I let myself reply consolingly, even though I thought it was a knack anyone who joined the vigiles ought to have mastered by their third day. ‘Did you find out anything from the old man?’

‘Polycarpus had had a moan about Aviola intending to give his job to someone else.’

‘Bad feeling against his master?’

‘Well, the old ’un said Polycarpus wasn’t exactly pleased. You can’t blame him.’

‘Polycarpus lined up something else for himself as soon as Aviola died.’ I said. ‘He had a good reputation. He was always going to find a place.’