He nodded. I waited. ‘Flavia Albia, there were things going on here, I mean actions being planned, that nobody wanted to speak about openly.’

‘Were you aware of tensions?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘Tell me.’

‘Well, even the absence of Galla Simplicia – who was a forceful member of their group – left a gap and made all the guests wonder how things would be in future. Would Galla never be invited now? Had the marriage busted up their group? Talking about friendships,’ Gratus said, ‘you should be aware that Galla Simplicia had for many years been a close friend of Mucia Lucilia.’

‘That is certainly not the impression she gives now!’ I commented.

‘The wedding came as a shock to her,’ Gratus confided.

‘That was why she took it badly? To the point that people accused her of wanting Aviola dead?’

‘Telling Galla Simplicia about the marriage was handled badly. Aviola and Mucia were embarrassed to broach the subject, so Galla only found out by accident.’

I pulled a face. ‘I suppose for Galla, having the news kept secret like that increased her anxiety, and her bad reaction?’

‘I imagine so,’ answered Gratus with the good steward’s long-matured knack of seeming non-committal.

‘And are you saying there were other issues in the household?’

‘I gained that impression.’

Screwing information out of this upright domestic was hard work but this might be my only chance; I was determined to pick his brains as much as I could. ‘So, Gratus, what was causing tension? And who was involved?’ He looked wary. I pleaded, ‘Oh, come on! This is a murder case. Sextus Simplicius is selling you on, despite your immaculate service and loyalty, so you have nothing to lose – why hang back?’

I saw his loyalty fade out at last. Reminded of the unfairness of his situation, Gratus finally overcame his reluctance and let rip. ‘Well, for a start, Polycarpus was grumpy, because his master was going off to be flattered by his rival Onesimus; he was distant with me too, because it was already in the wind that my master had an eye on him for my post. He may have thought I did not know – or if I did, he was afraid how I would treat him. So he was being funny with me. Then some of the slaves were on edge for their own reasons.’

‘The slaves who are now fugitives?’

‘I noticed it all,’ confirmed Gratus, ‘because every time any of them went off into a corner muttering, it left more work for my own people.’

‘What were they muttering about?’