Under Vesuvius

The performances were followed by another of the lavish public banquets we had grown accustomed to. It occurred to me that, had it not been for all this chasing about after murderers and the occasional fight with bandits, this stay in southern Campania would be making me very fat.

The duumviri went out of their way to be conciliatory. There was, after all, no profit to be had from resisting Rome, and much to be gained by cooperation. The bandit attack had embarrassed them and my act of calling in the troops had sobered them. As for Gelon, the trial would be on the morrow and all would be settled then. Besides, nothing should stand in the way of a good party.

In that spirit, we ate and imbibed and enjoyed the proceedings as if no dark cloud hung over us. Of course, a very palpable cloud did just that. Vesuvius was belching out a particularly profuse and noxious plume of smoke that day. Luckily, the prevailing wind kept the soot and ashes away from Baiae. Most of it seemed to be falling into the Bay of Neapolis, but an occasional shift of wind brought us a hot-iron odor laced with the stench of burning sulfur. It was rather like those aforementioned skeletons people use as decoration in banquet rooms, reminding all and sundry that death is always near and we might as well enjoy life while we can.

As if Baiaeans needed encouragement to enjoy life. During dinner famous Greek rhapsodes sang us the Odyssey, their Attic Greek so flawless, their renditions so filled with spirit and emotion that you could hear the oars creaking in the tholes and the splash of the great stones cast by Polyphemus at the fleeing ship of Odysseus (old Baios at the helm, no doubt.) Cognoscenti compared these performances with those of past years and, naturally, some claimed to have heard it done better. I never had.

When the festivities were over, Julia and I were entertained at the home of Publilius the jewel merchant. The last thing we needed was more food and wine, and by local standards this gathering was all but austere. Instead of another bout of gluttony, we were treated to an evening of that rarest and most delightful of diversions; sparkling conversation. Publilius had invited the wittiest and most eloquent men and women of the district, people noted for their skill at repartee. There were only two rules to observe: It was forbidden to talk about politics, and nobody was to talk too long about anything. Each of us was provided with a basket of buns, which we were to throw at anyone who waxed too loquacious.

It seemed that even a jewel merchant could be a person of taste. I have rarely enjoyed myself more, and would scarcely have believed that an evening could be so satisfying in the absence of a great deal of food and wine, tumblers and acrobats and dancers or at least a good fight. Topics ranged from the nature of the volcano in the distance to the true identity of Homer to whether dancing or oratory was the greater art. Discussion continued long into the night, illumination being provided by yet another Baiaean innovation: candelabra magnified by polished silver reflectors, supposedly an invention of Archimedes but adapted by the Ba-iaeans for purposes of luxury.

As we were making our farewells and calling for our litters, Hermes arrived with the latest load of bad news.

'There's been another,' he said.

'Not another murder!' I cried. 'No! I absolutely forbid it!'

'I fear some things are beyond even the power of a Roman praetor,' said our host. 'Who is it this time?'

'Quadrilla, wife of the duumvir Silva,' Hermes reported. 'You'd better come quick.'

'Where?' I said. 'Their villa?'

'No. The town house. It's only a few streets from here.'

'Julia,' I said, 'return to our lodgings. Try to keep Circe and Antonia from meddling in this. You'll get a full report upon my return.'

She nodded wordlessly, tight-lipped. Earlier in our marriage she would have insisted on accompanying me, and longed to do so now, but she was trapped by her own vision of how a praetor's wife should behave, and an unseemly fascination with bloody doings was not among the qualities she thought she should display.

We made our way to Silva's house without delay. The city's street lighting made torches unnecessary so our walk took no more time than it would have in daylight, a thing unthinkable in Rome. We found a crowd of citizens outside the door with a handful of the city guard keeping out the rabble. They stood aside for me. Inside, we found the duumviri in the atrium. Norbanus spoke in soothing tones to his distraught colleague. Manius Silva was pale and agitated. His Cretan colleague, Diogenes, stood nearby.

'Well,' I said, 'we should be getting used to this. Manius Silva, please accept my condolences for your loss, but matters are getting out of hand. We must dispense with the sad conventions for the moment. We will observe them later, I promise. Now, tell me what has happened.'

They were too stunned to object. Once again, my authority here was on shaky ground, but by bulling in forcefully and taking charge as if I were born to command, I got my way. This is a useful tactic that should be practiced diligently by all governors and magistrates sent to the hinterlands. People will usually cede authority to one who demands it with sufficient brazenness.

'I–I found her when I returned-' Silva was stammering, either sorely distressed or faking it very well.

'Returned from where?' I asked.

'We were-' Diogenes began, but I cut him off.

'I wish to hear this from Manius Silva. Please continue.'

'I was at the annual banquet of the perfumer's guild, of which I am head. It is held every year on this date.' He had gone from the lavish public banquet earlier in the day to another banquet. How typical of Baiae. 'When I reached home, all seemed as usual-'

'Quadrilla did not attend this banquet with you?' I asked. I had seen her with him at the earlier event.

'No. Most years she goes with me, but she pleaded that she was not feeling well and wished to spend the evening at home.'

'So, when you returned?'

'When I returned-this was perhaps an hour ago, maybe less-all seemed as usual. The janitor opened the door for me, the majordomo greeted me and reported all was well in the house.'

'Did you speak to any of the other servants?'

'No. The rest had all retired. I do not require them to wait up for me when I am to return late.'

I turned to Hermes. 'Find the janitor and majordomo and isolate them in separate rooms. I will question them later.' He nodded and went to do my bidding. 'Now, Manius Silva, if you will tell me how you found your wife?'

'Well, from the atrium I walked back to our sleeping quarters. Hapi-that is the majordomo's name-walked with me. I don't believe we said much. I just spoke of how well the banquet had gone, I think. I opened the door as I do every night. I was immediately struck by a-a strange odor.'

I knew that odor well. 'You saw nothing at first?'

'Nothing. It was very dark. I assumed Quadrilla had snuffed the lamps. I knew something was terribly wrong. I called her name, but there was no answer. Hapi ran to fetch lamps and we went in. Quadrilla was lying-well, you shall see, Praetor. I saw immediately that there was nothing to be done for her. I ordered Hapi out of the room and backed out myself. Nothing has been touched in there. She is as I found her. I immediately sent messengers to summon you and Norbanus and the civic magistrates.' People were learning how I conducted an investigation.

I placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Manius, you've shown great presence of mind under the most distressing of circumstances. I appreciate your foresight. I will make my inspection as quickly as possible, then we can have the libitinarii in to give Quadrilla the proper rites.' He nodded dumbly.

Hermes returned moments later. 'I've done as you ordered, Praetor.' By this time a small group had assembled in the house, mostly the other civic officials.

'Very good. Here is how we shall proceed. Only I, my assistant Hermes, and the duumviri will enter the room where Quadrilla lies. This is not a spectacle but an official investigation. All will keep silent until [speak, and then they will speak only to answer my questions. I abjure you to remember what you see and what words are spoken. This will be a matter for court testimony soon. Is that understood?'

'Yes, Praetor,' they said.

'Very well. Let's see what is to be seen.'