`I assume there had been no documentary evidence, Papa?'

He shook his head. `No. And no minor witness statements are to be brought, only what the defendants have to say for themselves. So there's Juliana, properly dressed in mourning and dishevelled – very carefully, I may say. She made us all feel as sorry for her as possible, but still looked neat enough to be respectable.'

`It is difficult for a woman,' his wife argued. `If she were smart, you would think her a heartless piece. If she looks untidy, you still won't vote for her.'

The senator winked at me; he did it openly. `There were pitfalls for the prosecutor too. Attack her too crudely and Silius would look tyrannical. Let her off lightly, and he might seem to be bringing the case out of personal vindictiveness.,

'Which of course you don't believe?' I queried drily.

`I think he's a bloody tricky bastard.' Such strong words were rare from Decimus. `I remember him years ago. He was an accuser in Nero's day – that's a sordid heritage. You could see his past coming out when he was cross-examining this morning. He still has the snide political innuendo: Were you not from such a family, you might not have known what was required… As if coming from a gang of contract traders had made the poor woman a natural dealer in death!'

`I doubt she knew anything about what went on at the aediles' office… Did Silius establish any motive for Juliana to want her father dead?'

`Saving the family fortune. It would be lost if he lived and they were forced to pay their court judgment. That, of course, enabled Silius to go harping on about the corruption.'

`But what is Juliana supposed to be saving the fortune for? Hardly any of it would go to her, you said. She had been given her dowry, and that was her lot.'

`This is the weakness in his case.'

`How does he get over it?' demanded Helena. `Distractions and irrelevant dirt. Those old court standbys.' `Lots of fun to listen to!'

Her father took a marinated olive, chewed it gently, and made no comment. He had a good sense of humour, but he could be prudish about unseemly jokes. In fact, I thought Helena had spoken critically. She would listen to scandal, but she disapproved of those who peddled it simply to harm others.

`So what kind of witness did Juliana make?' I asked.

`Pretty good. She stood by her story and stood up to Silius.'

Helena asked suddenly, `Was her sister there?'

'Yes. Didn't see her yesterday. Today, they were all present: sister, brother, mother, the two girls' husbands. Backing the accused, apparently. The defence made a decent job of things too – establishing that Juliana had always been a good daughter, was a mother, only ever had one husband – who was there in court supporting her – had not been criticised for her actions by her mother – who was ditto in court – had not quarrelled with her brother over their father's death – ditto, ditto – and she was warmly praised by her father for her love and care of him, shortly before he passed away.'

`So it was a pointless day?' Helena grumbled.

`Far from it.' Her father sat up slightly. `There was a sensation. I would not have missed being there. After Juliana, we still had the afternoon session. They had time to start on the apothecary.'

`The man who has to take the blame!' I muttered, the cynical plebeian.

`Or worse, poor fellow,' said Decimus.

He revelled in describing what had happened when Rhoemetalces was brought into the Senate. Silius Italicus questioned him forcefully about the pills he sold to Juliana. They went over the story that I had put in my report: the pills were supposed to contain corn cockle seeds, a fast poison. Rhoemetalces said again that on its own it would kill within an hour. Again he said that he believed the layer of gold would survive digestion, leaving the person who swallowed a pill alive. 'Silius used up all the rest of his waterclock declaiming what nonsense that was.' The waterclock was used to time speeches.

`Was Silius good?' asked Helena.

`Convincing. Eventually his time ran out, so Paccius stood up. Paccius had been looking as if he had eaten something indigestible himself.'

`He's a misery. I take it he made the apothecary look small?' I still remembered how scathing Paccius had been about me at the first trial.

`He didn't bother with the expected personal attacks.' Decimus had our whole attention now. He was clearly working up a good tale. `From the fold in his toga, Paccius produced a sardonyx box. While you were speaking to my colleague over there, I sent someone to the Metellus house. Is this the box the pills were in? Rhoemetalces looked startled but agreed it looked like the same one. Paccius told us it was the one found in Metellus' room when he died; Calpurnia Cara nodded. Paccius asked if Silius wanted to quibble. Silius looked black but said that if the apothecary recognised the box and none of the family objected, he would accept this. Paccius spun around to the apothecary again. How many pills were in the box? Six, said Rhoemetalces. How many people would that kill? Well, none in my opinion, Rhoemetalces insisted; the gold coating should mean the pills would pass safely through the patient… There were six when you sold it and – With a grand gesture, Paccius pulled off the lid – there are five now!'

The senator paused. He felt the need to ask for more wine in his goblet. We all smiled and pretended not to know he was just doing this for dramatic effect. Helena grabbed a jug, poured, added water, thrust the goblet at her father.

`It was nothing new – we all knew Metellus had taken a pill – but we were leaning forward on the edges of our benches, of course. One ancient ex-consul craned so far forward he fell off and had to be pulled to safety by his toga.' Decimus tilted the goblet to Helena in thanks, then took a sip. All senators learn basic oratory. He had mastered suspense. Mind you, this was no worse than trying to get a sensible story out of my own mischievous father, whose irritable habits were entirely self-taught. `Everyone could tell Paccius planned some theatrical device. These five pills are the same as the one that Metellus swallowed. And you say, the gold-coated pills are harmless? Yes, said the apothecary. He was under pressure and probably puzzled where the questioning was leading, so he added he would stake his life on it.'

I saw Helena Justina draw a sharp breath.

Her father did not pause. 'If you are wrong, one of these pills would kill within the hour, but you are the expert and you maintain that they are quite harmless. Thank you! exclaimed Paccius, suddenly lowering his voice. The whole court hushed. Then take one now yourself – and show us, please!'

XIII

'JUNO! THAT'S disgraceful – it was never allowed?' cried Helena.

`Well, everyone was on their feet. There was uproar. It gave Rhoemetalces a moment to think, I dare say.'

`He had no choice!' I was shocked. `If he refused to co-operate, his entire defence would fall -'

`Exactly! Silius jumped up and tried a few ploys – he maintained that if the accused were to die, he would lose his rights as prosecutor. He knew damn well that if the man took a pill and lived, we would all go home, case ended. His protests sounded feeble. Paccius just sat down on the bench, waiting.'

`I bet he looked smug.'

`You could choke on the condescension he exuded. But the consul stopped the racket. He said it would be inhumane to argue over technicalities for long. He gave the apothecary a straight choice: would he do it, here and now, or not? Rhoemetalces asked for the box to be brought over to him, took a pill and gulped it down straight away.

`I am ashamed!' wailed Helena.

`It was his decision, love -'

`No choice! He had no choice, you said so, Marcus.'