A DYING LIGHT IN CORDUBA

'In what way, Falco?'

'I can think of a number of provisions that Vespasian might consider. Granting wider rights of citizenship. Improved status for Romanized towns. Greater encouragement for Hispanians who wish to partake in the Senate or who qualify for equestrian posts in Rome.'

'Would he do these things?'

'All I can say is that, unlike others, Vespasian listens to advice.' And he knew the power of social bribes.

'You are very close to him, I think?'

'Not close enough for my own sake, sir!' I grinned.

I was still determined to extract his grandson's secret if I could. 'You won't talk about Constans. I accept that, sir-' His protest died, fairly quietly. Perhaps his resolve was softening. 'May I just ask you again about your visit to the proconsul?'

Licinius Rufius sighed. He breathed deeply and slowly. I let him take his time. 'Falco, I had a long discussion with my grandson after the party given by the sons of Annaeus Maximus.'

'You were angry with him for going to the party without telling you?'

'To start with. That became a minor matter. I sensed he was in serious trouble. He was afraid of something. He told me there had been a dancer at the party who was asking questions. It was rather confusing-'

'There are two dancers,' I explained.

'So it seems. All I ever persuaded Constans to say was that he had political information involving one of them.'

'Not the one at the Annaeus party?'

'I think not. There was another girl Constans and his friends had known, a local entertainer. I dread to think what class of girl-'

'Not a very good dancer,' I told him. 'You know of her?'

'Her name is Selia; she comes from Hispalis.' She had tried to kill me three days ago; I kept that to myself. 'What's the story with Constans?'

'He had been involved in hiring her once. I cannot imagine how it came about; my grandson was a quiet lad-'

Light was dawning. 'I think it was Quadratus who wanted her hired-but he had gone back to Rome for the Senate elections. So he wrote and asked Constans to organize this girl from Hispalis to dance at that dinner we all went to on the Palatine?'

'Something like that.' Licinius was trying to avoid telling me. He had failed to appreciate how important it was. 'It sounds perfectly harmless. My grandson paid her fare and appearance fee- though, as you know, he didn't even attend. It's annoying, and a waste of money, but young people do far worse things. Frankly, I could not understand why Constans became so exercised about it.'

'And how did this come to light, sir?'

'Annaeus Maximus had ridden over here after his sons' drinking party.'

'To complain about Constans being a guest?'

'No. Maximus came to warn me that his lads had seen fit to allow in a dancer.'

'Warn you, sir?'

'The dancer had been asking questions-it is presumably the same woman who had already accosted me. She is taking an interest in what happened when we went to Rome. Well you must know who I mean! She's asking much the same as you, Falco; Annaeus and I presume you are working with her. She has been hanging around Corduba for weeks.'

'I can see how that would have alarmed you all!' I avoided comment on the suggestion that I was part of some joint inquiry team. 'And how did this frighten Rufius Constans?'

'What upset him, and made me persuade him to appeal to the proconsul, was that the dancer who performed for the Annaei had also been asking questions about the other girl. One of the Annaeus boys had then told her that it was Constans who paid for Selia's trip to Rome. On learning that, for some reason, my grandson became hysterical.'

I could have told him the reason. Perhaps it was better to leave Licinius merely puzzled than to say that Selia's performance in Rome had included murder. Rufius Constans had been her paymaster. I could not believe he had known what he was doing. It seemed much more likely the poor boy was someone's dupe. But it looked bad-and had probably seemed worse to him. It would be easy to suggest that it had been Rufius Constans who panicked and paid Selia to start crashing inconvenient inquirers into Roman walls. My own view was that he was too immature to do that. However, his precise role called for examination, as the boy must have realized.

I could imagine his thoughts when he heard his grandfather and Annaeus Maximus-two men who were normally barely on speaking terms-anxiously discussing government inquiry agents, then revealing that one official had been told how Selia and Constans were linked. He probably thought he was about to be arrested-and so he should have been, both to protect him as a witness and to allow time to question him. Frankly, if he were still alive, I would be arresting him myself.

FIFTY-EIGHT

We made a slow and thoughtful journey back to the Camillus estate. I traveled in the carriage this time, and told Helena of my talk with the grandfather. Helena was feeling very tired but still had strength to worry about the bereaved family. 'Something needs to be done for poor Claudia.'

'What's her problem? I think she's seen through Quadratus.'

'Quadratus may think much more of her though, now she's the sole heiress!'

I grinned. 'I wouldn't worry. Claudia may have become a fortune-hunter's dream-though I'm sure her grandpapa is up to the situation. Anyway, as you said yourself once, the Quinctii will be looking for a bride with seven consuls in her pedigree and an ancestry she can trace on copper tablets all the way to the Seven Kings of Rome.'

'Meanwhile Claudia,' said Helena, 'harbors serious ideas of using her inheritance to make endowments in the local community. She wishes to make her life as a female benefactress to Corduba-and now that she'll inherit the entire family fortune, she'll be even more determined.'

'Commendable! Still, she's not averse to men.'

'No,' Helena agreed. 'She is a good young woman with a fine character. She has been well brought up. She is honest, direct, serious, and loyal to those she loves. She ought to be head of her own household; she will make a chaste, intelligent partner and an admirable mother.'

I knew my girl. 'That's a set speech! What exactly are you planning, fruit?'

'She could be married with a clause in her dowry that says large sums are supplied for the comfort of her husband and any children-but that Claudia Rufina is to have a fixed annual amount to devote to the community.'

'Married to whom, my darling?'

'How about someone from a rising senatorial family who are not snobbish about background, but who would be happy to offer their position and refinement-'

'In return for her glittering collateral?'

'Oh don't be crude, Marcus!'

'It was your idea,' I pointed out.

'She already knows Aelianus,' mused Helena.

'Of course she does,' I answered, thinking how much pleasure it would give me to shackle that young man to a serious girl with a rather large nose whose funds he was forced to respect.

Helena looked pleased with herself. 'She's a nice girl. Marius Optatus may not be too pleased with me, but I think I'm going to invite Claudia to Rome. Obviously she cannot stay with us-' No; our cramped, ill-decorated apartment was not the place to entertain a fabulous olive oil heiress. 'So I shall have to ask Mother to take her instead!'

Well I'm sure she'll conquer Rome with ease, my love-and her fortune should conquer your brother! Just give me a chance to clear up the residue of events from her own brother's disastrous visit to the Golden City first.'

Our house was quiet and subdued that evening. Nobody took much enjoyment in dinner, and we dispersed