‘Oh …’ Gratus had not quite lost his reticence, though he did not hesitate long. ‘Daphnus was in a right bate. He had his eye on Amaranta, and someone had told him she had been up to no good with Onesimus. Apparently there had been bad feeling before, and even fights. Property was broken. That was partly why Onesimus had been sent away early, after a serious row with the master and mistress. Daphnus thought if Amaranta went down to Campania, anything could happen between her and Onesimus in the fresh country air … He was nagging her and she was giving him the elbow.’

‘This is good – anything else, Gratus?’

‘Plenty! The two porters had never got on—’

‘Phaedrus told me they were best pals!’ I exclaimed.

‘Phaedrus lied through his teeth then. He and Nicostratus couldn’t stand one another. They were exchanging insults all night. I heard Aviola wanted to split them up; he had said he would sell them both unless they patched up their differences. I suspect Phaedrus was actually having it away with Amaranta – he’s hefty, good-looking and blond, and from little signs between them that night, I am pretty sure he had struck lucky.’ So much for Amaranta being a girl who kept aloof. Onesimus, Daphnus, Phaedrus – and Gratus had more on that topic: ‘Amethystus, the horrid old has-been, kept eyeing up Amaranta as well, though she can’t stand him; he cornered her in a mop cupboard on the wedding day, and she gave him a black eye.’

‘With a mop?’ I was laughing.

‘I believe so,’ Gratus replied gravely. ‘You may think Amethystus was giving himself airs, but he was verna, house-born, so he believed that gave him precedence over Daphnus and Phaedrus who came from the slave market.’

‘Even though he’s hideous, while they are both younger and more presentable, they ought to queue up behind him for Amaranta’s favours?’ I chortled. ‘Does this kind of rumpus go on at your house?’

‘It does not,’ stated Gratus coldly. ‘I see to that!’ He let go a little. ‘In my house it is understood the steward has first pickings.’ I was supposed to see this as a joke.

‘Go on – you are not promiscuous!’

‘No, I’m too busy.’

I pulled myself together. ‘What else?’

‘Olympe had tried to run away, but her own people brought her back, frightened they would be arrested for harbouring her. She was supposed to trill a few rounds in the dining room, but after a couple of off-tune flute melodies, Mucia Lucilia reprimanded her, so she burst into tears, threw her instrument at the wall, then ran off weeping. Even the lapdog—’

‘The adorable Puff?’

‘So lovely! During the party, Puff was attacked by that other hound, the rough one from Polycarpus’ house.’

‘Panther.’

‘You seem very familiar with the pets here, Albia.’

‘I think I like the pets more than the people … Don’t say Panther was shagging Puff, or making an attempt?’