Fancy-Cloak was clearly a person with violent shifts of mood. He exchanged a look with Cacus then turned and met my eyes. His own had lost their angry glitter and now seemed half-amused. ‘Your powers of reasoning are impressive, citizen — though I should not be surprised. I’d already heard of you. You have a lively reputation in the town, both as your patron’s trusted confidant and as a puzzle-solver of considerable skill. In fact, the relative with whom I lodged last night told me that you were the cleverest man for miles. I see that you deserve that accolade.’
Perhaps it was the unexpected flattery that prompted me to venture my second wild surmise. ‘If your imperial letter of authority concerns the will of Gaius Publius, by any chance, they are reading it on the steps of the basilica as we speak.’
‘Are they indeed?’ The news had taken him aback. ‘I was not aware of that. Thank you, citizen. So if I wish to make a challenge, I should present myself at once?’ He turned to Cacus. ‘You see what this implies? I think we can forget our other errands in the town — for the moment anyway — and get over there as soon as possible.’ He gave me another of his chilly smiles. ‘You cannot guess how much your words have simplified our business in Glevum, citizen.’ He even extended a ringed hand for me to kiss.
This sudden civility emboldened me again. ‘There will be many claimants, as I understand — all of them expecting something out of the estate. I believe it is a lengthy will with lots of small bequests, but Gaius seems to have made conflicting promises about the bulk of his estate. People were predicting legal battles in the courts — though your imperial decree will give you undisputed claim, of course. But there are likely to be wrangles, even with your scroll.’
‘So?’ He withdrew the hand, impatiently.
‘Since you are too late to register your claim before the reading starts, you won’t be able to do so till the end. So before you go, with your permission, there’s something I might ask …?’
‘About what, citizen?’ The voice was sharp again.
‘Only that I wondered why you’d meant to call on me.’
‘Ah!’ He looked at Cacus and raised a questioning eyebrow at his slave. I thought for a moment he meant that his bodyguard should answer me — but, to my surprise, it was simply a signal to bring the refreshments from the desk. There was, of course, only a single goblet on the tray — intended for my use — but the patrician picked it up, as if of right, and held it out for his manservant to fill, then sat down on the stool again and motioned me to take the other one.
I sat, reluctantly, cursing my tendency to talk too much. I had not intended to create a long delay. Evidently the patrician was in no hurry any more — presumably the prospect of a legal brawl in the forum did not appeal to him — but I still had unfinished business in the town. However, this leisurely interlude was entirely of my own creation and I did not dare offend a man of rank.
He raised the metal drinking cup and smiled at me — an almost friendly smile. It seemed the news I’d given him about the will had softened him. When he spoke his tone was more relaxed. ‘It’s true I planned to call in at your workshop later on. Having not found Marcus I was hoping to find you. And here you are in person — before I even look — and already you have given me invaluable advice.’ He took a sip of wine. ‘It seems the Fates are smiling on us both.’
That was ironic, given the terrible happenings today, but I did not tell him that. I simply said, politely, ‘But I still don’t understand, patrician, why you should come to me at all. I’m not a magistrate — in fact I have no legal authority of any kind — so I could not help with registering your claim.’
He made a face as though the wine was poor — which probably it was. The sample was not intended for a person of his rank. ‘Surely, citizen, with your skill at solving problems you can work out what I was going to ask of you?’
Challenged like that, of course I saw at once. A mere ruling on a will — even one that carried the imperial seal — was not likely to surprise either the provincial governor or the chief decurion of Corinium. ‘You had some news for Marcus — apart from seeking to register your scroll — and you hoped to entrust me with conveying it?’ I said, and earned a swift approving nod. ‘I should be honoured to do so, naturally. But if my patron is already on his way back here, as now seems possible, it may be more convenient to wait and deliver it yourself.’ He gave me a peculiar look, and I added quickly, ‘Assuming that you are still in the vicinity by then. Are you intending to be in Glevum long?’
‘I have already been here longer than I meant. I hoped that my business would be finished yesterday.’ He gave me another of his chilly smiles. ‘I originally intended to be away from here by dawn with a view to reaching Isca by tonight. Clearly that is no longer possible. But once I’ve settled what is owed to me I shall leave at once. And, I fear, I shall not be this way again. So tell your master when you see him that I spoke to you — and that I’m sorry I failed to call in at his town house in Corinium yesterday.’
I frowned. ‘That is all the message? I thought that there was news.’
‘Since you have told me about the reading of the will, the other information is no longer relevant. If the estate is settled and I get what I am owed — and I have every confidence — I shall be content to regard my business here as done.’ He drained the cup and held it out for Cacus to take, and when the slave had replaced it on the tray, got sharply to his feet. ‘Your patron knows me well. He had a lot of dealings with me once and my fortunes in these last few years I owe to him alone. I could not come to Glevum without attempting to repay a little of the debt.’ He held out his ringed hand for me to kiss again, which I did by simply scrambling to my feet and bending over it. ‘Tell him Commemoratus tried to call on him. You won’t forget the name?’ He smiled at the jest: the name means ‘well-remembered’ or ‘recalled to mind’ and he was teasing me.
‘I won’t forget,’ I said, with dignity, though it would have been more polite of him to offer his full title, as I had myself.
‘Good. I’m sure he’ll understand. You can tell him that I came to call on him, but you met me at the gate and I hadn’t been able to gain admittance to the house. I wouldn’t like your patron to suppose I hadn’t tried.’ He did not wait for an acknowledgement, but pulled his embroidered cloak more closely round himself and raised a parting hand. ‘So, farewell citizen and thank you for your help. Come, Cacus. I think our business is concluded here.’
‘At your command, as always, master. Do you wish me to obtain a carrying-litter for you, or are you content to walk?’
‘It isn’t far to the basilica,’ I said. ‘Just go to the corner and follow the main street.’
‘Even so we should make haste before it is too late,’ the golden-skinned slave said in his lilting Latin. He was so tall that he’d been looking idly through the window space — though it was built deliberately high up on the wall to keep out intruders and casual prying eyes — but now he came across the room and opened the door for his master to go through, and bowed his handsome head towards me in farewell.
There was no sign of Vesperion or the spotty slave outside, though I’d expected them to be hovering right beside the door — if not actually trying to overhear the talk within.
The same thought had obviously occurred to Commemoratus, who paused to call imperiously to me. ‘Please make our apologies to the steward, citizen,’ he said, loudly enough for half the dock to hear. ‘I don’t know where he is. He can’t be far away — it would be discourteous not to escort me from the premises — but I’m not disposed to wait till he arrives. Thank him for the sample of his wine on my behalf, but tell him I decided that I didn’t want to purchase any more.’ I’m sure I heard him chuckle as Cacus closed the door and they moved down the warehouse towards the outer door.