‘Libertus, something very unexpected and dreadful has occurred. It almost made Publius decide to stop the games, but that would have been disrespectful to the Emperor, so we have decided that they should go ahead. He has gone in to start them, as though all was well, but you’ll never guess what’s happened.’
I could not resist it. ‘His bride has disappeared.’
Marcus looked at me — rather as Maximus had looked at the magician in the street — with admiring disbelief. ‘It seems she has been kidnapped. But how do you know that?’
‘I heard it in the forum,’ I answered, truthfully, suggesting by my tone that I was always well-informed.
He was not impressed by this. Indeed, he began to tap his baton against his leg, which was an indication that he was irritated and dismayed, and his tone was sharp and fretful. ‘I don’t understand how that could come about. I hope the time it took to find you does not mean we are too late. If news of this should get around the town it might call the temple sacrifice into disrepute: that would look like a bad augury and what would the Emperor have to say to that? Yet you claim it’s common gossip?’
I hastened to retract. ‘Well not exactly that. I happened to be talking to a stall-keeper. He had a stall of palm-fronds near the entrance to the temple enclosure, and he chanced to overhear the message brought to Publius.’
Marcus frowned again. ‘You could identify the man? We’ll have him taken into custody — this information must not be allowed to spread. I had supposed that we were safe. It is not general knowledge among the populace that Publius was even intending to be wed.’
I blanched, remembering my stupid pride at knowing something other men did not and the blithe way in which I had passed on the news myself. ‘It may be a little late to call the rumour back,’ I said, not mentioning my own part in it of course. ‘If I have heard it, others will have done. If you try to silence gossip, you will make it worse. Better probably to let the matter rest — if they hear no more about it people will simply assume the stories were not true, or else were exaggerated as most rumours are.’
My words were interrupted by a loud roar from the crowd in the amphitheatre. No doubt some Thracian fighter had put up a good display.
I saw my patron’s eager glance towards the sound and I ventured a diplomatic effort to excuse myself and go. ‘It was a good move, for instance, to continue with the games,’ I said. ‘But will your absence not be a matter of remark?’
He fidgeted. ‘Perhaps you’re right. I should go back inside and be conspicuous and we’ll allow this public gossip to die down naturally. But that makes this matter more confidential than before, which will doubtless make your urgent task more difficult.’
‘My task, Excellence?’ I felt my throat go dry. I had supposed that I had fulfilled my role by offering advice.
He smiled impatiently. ‘But naturally, I have promised Publius that you would find the girl. Or woman, I suppose that I should say, since he has chosen to marry someone of advancing years.’
‘But Excellence,’ I bleated, ‘how can I do that? I’ve never seen this Vestal — and since she has been in the temple thirty years, I don’t imagine many people could describe her very well. Even her family will have no portrait of her face and even if they did, surely as a Vestal she’ll have travelled in a veil, as any modest Roman matron would have done? Nobody could swear that they had seen her on the way, or pick her out if they saw her in a crowd. I understand that Publius went to look for her himself, but I gather from your words that even he did not succeed and he is a man of wealth and influence. If he can’t find her how on earth can I?’
‘I leave that up to you.’ He gave a fleeting smile. ‘I’m sure you’ll find a way. You’ve done such things before.’
I tried to protest that this was different. I didn’t know the woman or the man concerned (they did not even know each other, it appeared), both of them were strangers to the town, and the kidnapping — if that was what it was — had not happened here. But Marcus brushed aside such trivial complaints.
‘It cannot be as difficult as you pretend, old friend. She was seen this morning by lots of witnesses — according to the carriage-driver, anyway — and the carriage did not stop until it reached the city-gate. So she was either seized immediately before she left Corinium, or smuggled from the carriage as soon as it reached here. As long as you find her in a day or two — before Publius has to leave — I’m sure you’ll find the bridegroom generous in his gratitude.’
I felt my throat go dry. Not only was I commanded to find the missing bride, but I was expected to do so in just ‘a day or two’. However, I was not in a position to refuse so I said, resignedly, ‘Very well, Excellence. I have no hopes of this, but — as ever — I am at your command. If you wish me to, I’ll go straight in and speak to Publius.’ At least it would give my poor numb feet a rest, I thought. My legs were almost dead with kneeling by this time. I started to get out.
Marcus’s firm grasp on my arm prevented me. ‘But of course you can’t do that. The populace would see. This whole enquiry will have to be discreet.’
‘So I’ll have to wait until the games are over, Excellence? Obviously I must speak to Publius and I thought you wanted me to make a start at once?’
‘Of course I do.’ The baton was tapping on the leg again. ‘I suppose I can tell you what Publius told me — that might give you somewhere to begin…’ He broke off as his words were drowned out by another cheer. ‘Though I cannot be long. The fights are underway, and my absence will be noted, if I linger here.’
I was as keen to move as he was. ‘What did Publius say?’
Marcus was distracted — it was evident that his mind was already on the games — but he did his best. ‘When he got the message, he went outside the gate — the north one, which links up with the east road to Londinium — and met the carriage-driver who was waiting there and who, of course, had sent the messenger.’
I nodded to show that I had understood.
‘The fellow was almost inarticulate with fear, but he claims he saw the Vestal into the coach himself and did not know that she was missing till he drew up outside the town. It took him only minutes to secure the horse, he says, but when he went to help her down he found that she was gone — together with her attendant and her dowry box. Of course he sent for Publius at once and also contacted the woman’s family — but they sent a slave to say that she was not with them. They were not expecting her until the feast was finished here.’
‘After Publius had presented her in public as his prospective bride?’
‘Exactly. The father of the family was here in Glevum, at the rites himself, but the rest of the household had remained at home and was preparing for the wedding later on today — but they had heard nothing from the Vestal.’
‘Or from her kidnappers? One might have expected a ransom note by now.’
‘That is what worried Publius most of all. He fears it may have been a bandit robbery, he said.’
I knew what that implied. The penalty for robbery on the public road is crucifixion, ruthlessly applied, so victims of banditry are usually found dead — thus ensuring that they cannot testify. ‘So the bride may be in danger if he does not find her soon?’
‘Exactly. But where was Publius to look? He does not know the town. He found the paterfamilias — who was among the official guests of course and was walking to the games — and alerted him, and they came to find me quietly and ask me what I thought.’ He looked me in the eye. ‘I spoke most highly of your abilities, and obviously since Publius is a guest of mine…’
I said nothing and went on saying it.
He made a helpless little gesture with his hands. ‘You know, of course, that he’s been very generous? Not only the sacrificial bull and birthday games, but he’s promising to fund another fountain and some drains. And he gave me Fiscus as a gift. Under the circumstances…’ He gave my arm a pat. ‘I rely on you, Libertus.’ And to my astonishment, he pulled the drapes aside and gestured to Fiscus to assist him down.