Until Persicus had disappeared mysteriously long ago month, the agent’s declare to Petro and me that the cameo used to be came across ‘in undergrowth at the marshes’ grew to become suspect. It was once attainable Persicus have been performed in on his as far back as Rome together with his dear new bijou. Petronius must money if he were said lacking. ‘Is he a collector of useful gadgets, or have you learnt who he acquired it for? ’ ‘Confidential, Falco. ’ ‘Girlfriend, you suggest? ’ ‘We really concept so. ’ ‘I’m yes you get a odor for it . . . Is he married? ’ ‘Presumably. He received a moment piece that day—very less expensive. ’ How unhappy lifestyles will be. I again to Rome, passing instantly via and making my method to the Janiculan. speaking with my very own candy spouse Helena Justina was once now an pressing factor. I dumped my baggage within the porch. instances had replaced: I knew humans might take it in for me. i may pay attention my teenagers romping within the gardens, with Nux barking. intuition drew me down a course clear of them. i discovered Helena seated on a bench that were arrange with reference to the place we held my father’s funeral. a brand new memorial stood there, with an inscription to Pa and a tragic final line naming our misplaced child son. additionally Marcus Didius Justinianus, loved of his mom and dad: may well the earth lie frivolously upon him. I had no longer been in a position to ask Helena something approximately this; I needed to organize it myself. I had no longer even obvious it because the mason set it up. Helena’s perspective recommended that she got here right here usually. She was once no longer weeping, notwithstanding i assumed I detected tears on her cheeks. If she used to be handling to mourn, that was once an development on her earlier tight, annoying refusal to recognize what had occurred. After I met her gaze, I sat beside her in silence, then we checked out the memorial jointly. After a time, Helena of her personal accord positioned her hand on mine. It used to be a few weeks to Helena’s birthday, but if we again to the home I gave her the blue glass vase besides. She was once worthy it. I advised her that; she advised me i used to be a hound, yet she nonetheless enjoyed me. ‘I might were simply as happy at your go back and not using a present. ’ a guy in my line of labor should be cynical, yet i thought her. ‘Just as long as you don’t see it as a bribe. ’ this is able to be our simply point out of Petro and me protecting that guy at our condo. ‘Even you can’t find the money for the scale of bribe you will have wanted. ’ ‘Oh i do know. a minimum of, in contrast to the spouse of Arrius Persicus, you recognize I haven’t acquired an even bigger current for a few mystery mistress. ’ ‘No, darling. Spending even this a lot cash should have been adequate of a surprise. ’ ‘I’ll get used to doing it. For you. ’ ‘Well,’ acknowledged Helena graciously. ‘You had greater cross and inform Petronius Longus what you figured out. ’ ‘You’re giving me a cross out of barracks! —Not this night, even though, honeycake. I’m staying in with you. ’ ‘Don’t overdo it, Falco—or i'm going to imagine you've got whatever to conceal. ’ Helena Justina used to be nearly her outdated self back. i actually felt too travel-weary to search out Petro yet despatched a message to him with information of Volusius being a mathematician and Arrius Persicus paying for the cameo.