Please don't!' I urged.. Please let me handle it.'

I could see he would not heed me. Caesius Secundus was fired by the hope that a new killing – if that was really what had happened -would provide more clues, more mistakes or muddled stories, and maybe a new chance.

III

The coffin of Marcella Caesia stood in a dark side room. Its lid was painstakingly forced open with a crowbar. The surly slave who forced the curled lead edges apart plainly reckoned I was yet another callous fraud preying on his master.

Do not expect me to dwell on the contents. The dead girl had been bleached and sun-baked for a twelvemonth on the mountainside and animals had got to her. There were a lot of loose bones, a little shredded clothing. Collecting the relics must have been difficult. The coffin had been on a sea voyage since. If you have ever seen a corpse in that condition, you know how it was. If you never have, be grateful.

How was the body lying, Caesius? Could you tell?'

I don't know. I thought she had been left on her back. That was merely my feeling. Everything was widely scattered.'

Any indication that she had been buried? Could you see a shallow grave?'

No.'

Under the fierce gaze of Caesius Secundus, I endured the experience, walking around to view the coffin from every angle. I saw nothing helpful. Out of decency, I gave it time, then shook my head. I tried to find reverence; I probably failed. Then I left Caesius raising his arms in prayer, while his daughter's remains were resealed by the purse-lipped slave, hammering over the lead lip of the coffin lid as best he could.

It had one result for me. Mere curiosity changed to a much harder mood.

In that angry frame of mind, I addressed the new case, the second young Roman girl dead in Olympia. I set about investigating her in Rome.

Aulus had written a few facts This victim was called Valeria Ventidia. At nineteen, she had married Tullius Statianus, a decent

young man from a well-to-do family, their middle son. The Tullius family were supporting an older son for election to the Senate They had not intended anything similar for Statianus, so perhaps as a compromise his parents gave the bride and groom a wedding gift of a long tour abroad.

I was unable to trace Valeria's own relations. So far, there was no Forum gossip about this case. I only tracked down the Tulli because of the other son, who was standing for election; a clerk in the Curia grudgingly let himself be bribed to scribble an address. By the time I turned up there, Caesius Secundus had ignored my plea, tracked down this family, and preceded me to confront the groom's parents.

It did not help. He imagined that grief gave him an entry, and that if there was something unnatural in the bride's death, her new in-laws would share his indignation. I could have told him this was unlikely. But I had been an informer for nearly two decades, and I knew people stink. Bereavement does not improve anybody's morals. It just gives them more excuses to slam doors in the faces of more ethical people. People like Caesius Secundus People like me.

The Tullii lived on the Argiletum. This hectic thoroughfare leading north from the Curia passed itself off as a prime address; however, it had a bad reputation for riots and rip-offs, and the private houses there must be frequently bothered by street brawls and bad language. That told us the family either had over-grandiose ideas, or old money that was running out. Either way, they were bluffing about their importance.

The groom's mother was called Tullia, Tullia Longina Since she shared her husband's family name, it must be a marriage between cousins, probably for money reasons. She agreed to see us, though reluctantly, To knock on the door of a private house, unannounced, always puts you on the wrong foot. I could shoulder my way into most places, but a Roman matron, mother of three children, by tradition expects less crudity, Upset her, and a slab-like slave would soon evict us.

My husband is attending to business. Tullia Longina was eyeing us up more critically than Caesius had done. I looked slightly less suave than a gladiator. At least Helena, clad in clean white with gold glinting at her throat, seemed reassuring. Once again, I had taken her with me. I was in a raw mood and needed her restrained back-up.

We could return at a more convenient time,' Helena offered, not meaning it.

We noticed the woman's guarded look.. Better to speak to me. Tullius is annoyed already – A man called Caesius has been here; are you anything to do with him?'

We tutted and looked grieved by his interference.. So you know what happened to his daughter?' Helena asked, trying to win the woman's friendship.

Yes, but my husband says, what has it to do with us?' Mistake, Tullia Helena hated women who sheltered behind their husbands.. Valeria's – accident – is very unfortunate, and a tragedy for my poor son, but we feel, what is the purpose of dwelling on what happened?'

Maybe so you can console your son?' My voice was hard I was remembering the dank contents of the lead coffin at the Caesius house.

Tullia still failed to spot our rudeness. Again, her wary expression came and was quickly supplanted.. Well, life must go on…'

And is your son still abroad?' Helena had recovered herself.

Yes.'

You must just want him home.'

I do! But, I confess I am dreading it Who knows what state he will be in…' Next minute the mother was telling us that his condition was amazingly stable.. He has decided to continue his journey, so he will have time to come to terms…

Did that not surprise you?' I thought it astonishing, and I let her see it

No, he wrote us a long letter to explain. He said the other people on the trip are comforting him. He will stay among his new friends. Otherwise, he would have to make his way back to Rome, entirely alone, whilst in such trouble and unhappiness.

Unconvinced, I cut across this.. So what does he say about the death?'

Once more, the mother looked anxious. She was intelligent enough to know we could find out the facts some other way, so she coughed.. Valeria was found one morning, outside the lodging house, lying dead.' Already despising Statianus, I wondered what kind of newly-wed husband spent a whole night separated from his bride, not raising the alarm. One who had had a fight with her, perhaps?

Was there any thought of who might have done such a thing?' Helena took over before I lost my temper

Apparently not' The mother of Statianus seemed a little too tight-lipped.

No doubt the local authorities investigated thoroughly?'

A woman in the party summoned a magistrate. Created a fuss.' Tullia seemed to think this responsible move was over-officious; then she told us why.. Statianus found the investigation very difficult; the magistrate was set against him A story began that my son must have had something to do with what had happened to Valeria – that maybe they had quarrelled – either that she had lost interest in him, or that his behaviour towards her drove her away…'

The mother had said too much and knew it. Helena commented,. You can see how a breach might happen with a new married couple, youngsters who had known one another only slightly beforehand, under the stress of travelling.

I sneaked in a question". Was it an arranged marriage?' All marriages are arranged by someone, even ours, in which we two had simply decided to live together.. Did the couple know one another? Were they childhood friends?'

No They had met several times in adulthood; they were content to be partners.'

How long ago was the wedding?'

Only four months… Tullia Longina wiped away an invisible tear At least this time she made the effort

Valeria was nineteen. And your son?' I pressed on.