Solid Citizens Read Online Free PDF Page B

years. Very knowledgeable, too. Now. What exactly did you want to know?’
    ‘Nothing specific,’ I said. ‘Or at least, nothing more than anything else. Like I told you, I’m just feeling my way, working on the background at present. Silius Nerva said your master was a widower. His wife died quite recently, and there were no children. That right?’
    ‘Yes. The Lady Vatinia passed on just over two months ago. And no, they had no family, unfortunately.’
    ‘There’s a brother, I understand.’
    Was that a flicker? ‘That’s correct. Master Lucius. He was – is – five years younger than the master.’
    ‘Living in Bovillae?’
    ‘Yes. Or so I believe.’
    ‘So you
believe
?’
    A hesitation. ‘He and the master didn’t get on, sir. Not for a great many years, since their father died, in fact.’
    ‘Why would that be, now?’
    ‘I really couldn’t say.’
    Flat statement, delivered with a poker face and with all the indications that that was all I’d be getting on the subject. Bugger; I recognized the signs. I’d hit the Faithful Retainer syndrome head on.
Couldn’t say
summed it up: I’d bet a combination of the thumbscrew and wild horses wouldn’t have dragged the words out of him. Not to a stranger, certainly.
    Leave it. For the present, at least.
    ‘Pity,’ I said easily. ‘So. Do you have any idea where I’d find him? Brother Lucius?’
    ‘I’d imagine in one of the local wine shops.’ That came out sharper than probably even he’d expected, because he visibly clammed up after he’d said it. Still, his loyalties would lie with the elder brother, not the younger one, so it didn’t come as the shock that it might have.
    ‘He, uh, likes a cup or two of wine, then?’ No answer. ‘Are you saying he’s an actual drunk?’ Again, silence, which was an answer in itself. ‘Come on, pal! You’re not breaking any major confidences here. Bovillae’s a small town. Someone else’ll tell me anyway, if you won’t. Besides, it’s no big deal. Lots of families have them.’
    ‘Master Lucius does have a problem in that regard, sir, yes. A very long-standing one.’
    ‘He’ll be his brother’s heir, though, won’t he? If there aren’t any children?’
    ‘That I can’t strictly say, sir.’ Anthus was looking prim. ‘Presumably. Although that’s no concern of mine, because the master has given me my freedom. I know that already.’
    So when Lucius the Lush moved in – if he moved in – Anthus would be gone, and from the looks of things not sorry to go, either. Well, fair enough. ‘Congratulations,’ I said. ‘You have any plans made?’
    A blush – or what, in this Bathyllus lookalike, passed for one. ‘There is a certain widow-lady, sir. A baker with a shop near the Circus. We’ve had an understanding for several years now, ever since her husband died. She’s freeborn, so up to now that’s been an impediment. But when I get my cap … well, yes, I do have plans.’
    ‘Good for you, pal. The best of luck.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘So, uh, Brother Lucius is the only living relative, is he?’
    Another hesitation. ‘Well, sir, to be strictly accurate, no, he isn’t. The master also had a nephew on his wife’s side. A young gentleman by the name of Aulus Mettius.’ There was just the smidgeon of an edge on the word ‘gentleman’.
    ‘Uh-huh. And he lives where, exactly?’
    ‘Here in Bovillae. Or rather, the family villa is just outside town, beyond the Tiburtine Gate. He isn’t married, and he lives there with his mother. She, as I said, was the late mistress’s younger sister. She’s been a widow now for many years.’
    ‘And this Aulus Mettius and his uncle didn’t get on either, I suppose, right?’
    ‘No, sir. In fact, I don’t think the master has had any contact whatsoever with him for the past ten years, at least. Not since he was relegated.’
    ‘Relegated?’ I said sharply. Relegation’s the punishment for a crime, a minor form of exile where the convicted