‘You never cease to amaze me, Flora. I thought you said that you didn’t know much.’ He took his hand away and she relaxed. ‘Sorry, but I haven’t really got much family any more, and somehow you make me feel as if I have.’

She looked up at him, and perhaps it was the light, but he thought he saw a moistness in her eyes.

‘Piss off!’ she said and then sighed. ‘Why do you always pull me back towards the sewer? If I didn’t like you I’d pay someone to kick your teeth in. Not that I’d probably have to pay, if I asked in the right places. You’re not good at making friends, are you?’

‘Then all the more lucky that I have you as one.’

‘You won’t if you don’t look after Procla! Any of your lads hurt her or not pay and it’ll be your bollocks along with theirs that they’ll be feeding to the pigs.’

A door opened and there was a burst of shrieking followed by a man’s bellow. Two women were pushed into the room. One was pale with chestnut hair and the other dark-skinned and black-haired. Their hair was wild, and they wore fine slippers in whitened leather and nothing else. It was the twins, and they were rowing as they often did, so that a big broad-chested man, one of Flora’s slaves, had to hold them apart. Ferox had seen neither woman for a long while, and certainly not like this.

‘Quiet!’ Flora screamed, the sound echoing in the room and probably audible upstairs even above the din. The two women froze and went silent. ‘Are you still here?’ she asked Ferox. ‘Thought you came on business?’

Ferox did his best to look only at the mistress of the house and failed, his eyes flicking over towards the naked slaves. ‘One last question. I saw Longinus as I came in. Do you know him?’

‘I know everyone, don’t I – at least by one thing.’ She leaned her head so that she was peering at him. ‘You’d better not be up to any mischief. Yes, I know him. He’s a friend, and has been for years – much longer than you. We’ve been through a lot together, and sometimes we like to sit and talk about the old days and how glad we are that we’re not living them any more.’

‘Do you trust him?’

‘With my life. Yours too, not that that counts for much! Now clear off and let me get on, you idle soldier – before you start enjoying yourself and shock us all.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Just go!’

XV