That presumably indicated robbers – though it might not. I was supposed to be investigating the slaves, and if they really were guilty, I must start wondering whether any robbers had been involved at all that night. Or was the story a cover-up?

I wanted to pursue that. Manlius Faustus had insisted that my commission was not to include contact with criminals. That wouldn’t stop me if it was needed.

However, so long as there are alternatives I am not foolish. I had not yet tried consulting the vigiles. Perhaps they had wise words to offer on this case (feel free to guffaw). Then, if I did decide to go behind my employer’s back, at least the vigiles could tell me first which ghastly local gangsters might have been involved. But I presumed they had questioned the usual suspects.

I had to steel myself to visit the Second Cohort. For a woman, even talking to the vigiles means a trial of courage and personality, especially in a strange district. I needed to get this over with before I lost my nerve.

18

‘I’m glad to know I haven’t lost my touch!’

Uncle Quintus, the handsome, likeable one of my Camillus uncles, surprised me by arriving at the Aviola apartment. I was just slinking out, with a stole wrapped around me to look like a respectable matron. He claimed he had guessed what I would be up to. I kept mum and glared.

‘You are going to tangle with the vigiles – then you’ll want to go after the robbers, don’t deny it, Albia. I checked progress with your client this morning and it’s obvious. Manlius Faustus is an idiot if he trusts you to obey orders.’

‘He’s not an idiot – but he is wrong, and so are you, to try and tie me down.’

Quintus tipped his head on one side. He had rather fine brown eyes which he deployed − perhaps unconsciously, though I thought not − to inveigle women who knew better to fall in with his wiles. Don’t ask me what wiles. I preferred not to know. ‘So what’s the story there?’ he asked.

‘Where?’

‘Devious Niece, you and the plebeian aedile?’

‘There is no story. Nosy Uncle, why don’t you trot into the apartment and inspect the scene of crime, while I nip out for an onion? There’s a slave called Myla who has been waiting all her life to be bewitched by you. Leave me alone and ask her some questions.’

‘Ooh, will she make wild relevations?’

‘You will doubtless get further with her than I did.’

‘She can wait,’ decided Quintus annoyingly. ‘I’ll plan my assault on the winsome Myla while I am escorting you.’