I agreed that the snarling cook would allow only a chosen few into his kitchen. As I departed to seek the majordomo, I reflected that the domus of a ruthless patrician could be as dangerous as the inky-dark streets of Rome.
Cloelius remained shut in his tablinum, engrossed in whatever business he decided to finish, and did not invite us back in. The majordomo, when I found him to tell him about the sleeping arrangements, agreed to my request with a curl of lip. He led me to wait in a chamber that contained eating couches but no food on the table, as well as Vibius and his wife.
“My dear, this is Leonidas.” Vibius waved a hand at me when I entered. “Gallus’s new assistant.”
Aelia came forward to greet me. She had a stocky body similar to Cloelius’s, but the resemblance fortunately ended there. Her thick dark hair had been dressed simply, with braids coiled around her head. The style suited her face, which held a beauty leftover from her youth. She wore a stola, as matrons did, which flattered her body with its drape, a simple silver clasp at her shoulder.
Aelia was about the same age as Vibius, both in their late thirties, at a guess. I wondered if they had any children. I thought not, as most men boasted about children, either their accomplishments or their number. Vibius had not uttered one word on the matter.
“I have watched you fight,” Aelia said to me with admiration. “My brother was never one for the games, but my husband enjoys them. You are very skilled.”
I gave her a small bow in thanks at the compliment, not knowing how to respond. Aelia did not flutter and preen as many upper-class women did when praising my skill but spoke with true interest in my expertise.
“Leonidas got rid of the ring,” Vibius stated.
Aelia’s expression became one of vast exasperation. “That blasted ring. I am tired of hearing of it.”
“It was a good bit of money,” Vibius returned. “I could not pass up the opportunity.”
Aelia turned a frown on Vibius, one that held both despair and fondness. “Even so. Please cease speaking about it.”
“You were you paid to give the ring to Laurentius,” I stated.
Vibius started, his round eyes bulging. “How do you know about Laurentius?”
“He attacked me as I walked home yesterday. He thought I still had the ring. Laurentius and then his father told me you were to find the ring at the building site and take it to him.”
“You met Duilius?” Vibius let out a breath. “I’ll never be paid now, I wager.”
“For the best.” Aelia laid her hand on Vibius’s bony arm. “I was never happy about the arrangement.”
“Who approached you?” I asked. “Was it Secundus? Why did you agree?”
“The money was too good, of course,” Vibius responded. “As for who approached me, it was Duilius. I’ve never heard of this Secundus.”
“And you were to …” I made a gesture for Vibius to continue. His roundabout way of explaining made me impatient.
Aelia cut in. “It was a simple task. Duilius said a man would leave a ring half buried at the building site. Vibius would naturally come across it in the course of his work there. He was to pick it up, take it to Duilius, and be paid twenty denarii for his trouble.”
I blinked at the amount. Twenty denarii could buy much.
“Such an easy job.” Vibius’s voice quavered. “Twenty denarii. Gone now. All because Duilius wasn’t clear in which part of the field the man would bury the ring.”
“Why didn’t you put up a fight about it when I found it?” I asked in curiosity. “You let me walk away.”
“I could hardly tackle a famous gladiator, could I?” Vibius shrugged. “You wouldn’t be alive today if you weren’t good. I tried to lure you to my bathhouse, where I might have talked you out of it, but you refused even that.”
“So you sent someone to my rooms to steal it?” I demanded.
Vibius shook his head vigorously. “I told you, no. I had nothing to do with that. I don’t know any thieves, in any case.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
Vibius spread has hands. “I didn’t know you. Would it have mattered?”
“I’d have advised you against doing the errand at all,” I said. “Such schemes are dangerous.”
“I saw no danger in it,” Vibius said. “Pick up the ring, hand it to Duilius, receive my coins.”
