David Wishart - Last Rites

The study was a lot more comfortable than the hall, and I got the impression it was where Camillus spent most of his time. There were a lot of books. There was also something I’d never seen before: a big side table with a plain, hills and a river sculpted on it in clay. Groups of toy soldiers and horsemen were drawn up in ranks like they were just about to beat the hell out of each other. In front of one army was a line of miniature elephants.

The deputy chief priest blushed when he saw me looking. ‘A small hobby; refighting battles. That one’s Zama. Cornelius Scipio has always been rather a hero of mine.’ He lifted half a dozen book-rolls off one of the two reading couches and dumped them on the desk. ‘Make yourself comfortable. Junia shouldn’t be long. I know it’s early, but some wine while we’re waiting?’

‘Yeah. Yeah, great. Thanks.’ He poured it for me himself but left the second of the three cups empty. It was an excellent Falernian. I was beginning to warm to Furius Camillus. ‘Did you know the dead girl well yourself, sir?’

‘No, not really. Oh, I saw her occasionally as a child, of course – Lepidus was and is one of my closest friends – but apart from formal occasions since then when she was only one of six I haven’t seen much of her. A pleasant girl, though, Cornelia, I always thought. Very quiet, very serious, but strong. Good Vestal material.’

‘Not the, uh, hysterical type, then?’ While I’d got Camillus on his own I might as well get another informed reaction to the death. ‘You think she would ever commit suicide? Given the, uh, appropriate circumstances, I mean?’

‘Certainly not. It would be completely out of character.’ Camillus had stretched his long length – he’d been a big man in his day, big as me, easy – on the other reading couch. ‘If Cornelia was not one thing, that thing was hysterical.’ His lips twisted. ‘If that isn’t tortuously phrased. I mean she was an extremely well-balanced young lady. Also, she had a good mind, especially for a woman. And although she didn’t make friends easily those she did make she kept. Furthermore, I can think of no “appropriate circumstances” in which she would find suicide a viable option.’ His eyes held mine; they were level, clear and very, very smart, and he’d stressed the phrase carefully. ‘None whatsoever, Valerius Corvinus. Does that answer your question?’

‘Yes. Yes, it does. Thank you, sir.’ Well, I hadn’t been expecting anything different, but it was nice to get confirmation. If I’d needed it. ‘Still, if you don’t mind my saying so, that’s a pretty categorical encomium from someone who didn’t know her all that well.’

‘It’s the chief priest’s job to choose from among prospective Vestals, which naturally means the emperor. However, I was deputy when Cornelia joined the sorority, and Tiberius did me the honour of leaving the choice to my judgement. And if I flatter myself on one thing, Corvinus, it’s judging people, even if they’re as young as eight. I vetted the girl myself and, as I say, Cornelia was natural Vestal material. There is no way – no way at all – that she would have brought disgrace either upon herself or the office she held.’

‘So what -’ I stopped. Jupiter was back.

‘The chief Vestal, sir,’ he said, and withdrew. Evanesced.

‘Good morning, Marcus.’ Junia Torquata swept in. ‘And to you, Caecinus.’

‘What kept you, Junia?’ Camillus said drily.

‘I was on my way round in any case.’ Torquata pulled up a chair. ‘The door-slave – a most reliable girl – said you had a visitor, and when she described Caecinus here I put two and two together. Ah.’ Her eyes lighted on the wine jug. ‘Fruit juice. How nice. I do believe I’ll have a small cup of that.’

Jupiter! I’d been through this before! However, Camillus didn’t bat an eyelid. He filled the cup and handed it over.

‘More for you, Corvinus?’ he said.

‘Uh, yeah. Yeah, thanks.’ I held my own cup out for a refill.

‘Now.’ Torquata took a belt of the Falernian and then fixed me with an eye steady as a prizefighter’s. ‘Come on, young man. No shilly-shallying.’

‘Cornelia was murdered,’ I said. ‘At least I think she was.’

The chief Vestal sagged slightly. ‘Thank the gods!’ she murmured. ‘Thank all the holy gods!’

‘Hold on, Torquata. That’s the, uh, good news.’ Jupiter! So much for the reservations! And after that reaction I wasn’t even going to hint that pregnancy was still an option. ‘If I don’t miss my guess, the murderer was a man.’

They both stared at me. Camillus was the first to speak.

‘But, my dear fellow,’ he said gently, ‘that’s impossible. The house was -’

‘Sealed. Yeah. I know. Only one of the flutegirls was a man in disguise.’

Torquata set her cup down. ‘You’re sure?’ she said.

‘I’m sure. What his reasons for being there were exactly I don’t know, but I’d bet a year’s income on that, at least. He slipped out into the garden just after Cornelia left the room, went round to the hall, murdered the girl and escaped through the back door.’

‘But how could he expect to get away with it?’ Camillus was still looking like someone had belted him from behind with a sacrificial stunner’s hammer. ‘The imposture, I mean. Although obviously he did, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.’

‘As far as physical appearance was concerned he must’ve been soft-featured enough to pass for a woman,’ I said. ‘For the rest, he could play the flute. Not just pretend to play; play. How he managed actually to get himself included among the twelve musicians I don’t know yet – there’s a woman called Thalia who might have the answer – but he did.’

‘Clodius Pulcher all over again.’ Camillus filled himself a cup of wine and took a sip. ‘I’m impressed, Corvinus; most certainly I am. My congratulations, young man. You confirm Lucius Arruntius’s predictions.’ He turned to Torquata. ‘You realise, Junia, that if what Valerius Corvinus says is true – even if there’s a possibility of it being true – you’ll have to repeat the rite.’ He paused. ‘Junia? Did you hear what I said?’

The chief Vestal blinked and shook herself. ‘My apologies, Marcus; I was wool-gathering. Yes; yes, of course we will. A nuisance, of course, but it has to be done.’

Camillus chuckled. ‘Nomentanus isn’t going to be pleased either, not when he’s had to fork out more from his own pocket than he can afford already. If I were you, Corvinus, I’d keep clear of the city judges’ offices for the foreseeable future, because you are not going to be popular in that quarter. You’re absolutely sure of your facts, I suppose?’

‘Yeah. Certain.’ Hell! I’d forgotten about Nomentanus! Sure, I’d got a special commission, but technically as a city judge – or one of the college, at least – the case lay in his province. I could do without stepping on sensitive toes. Also, forget avoiding the city judges’ offices because I’d be going over there later to see Caelius Crispus…

‘Well, that’s that, then,’ Camillus said. ‘Junia, you’ll just have to… Junia? What on earth is wrong with you, woman?’

I glanced at Torquata. She still looked fazed. ‘Nothing,’ she said quietly. She emptied her cup and set it down. ‘I’m sorry, it’s just… the thought of a man at the rites is shocking, that’s all. I’ve had too many shocks recently, and I’m too old for them. Of course we’ll repeat the ceremony, that goes without saying. And we owe Corvinus here our thanks. The gods know what the repercussions might have been if the goddess had been slighted and we hadn’t found out in time.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll go and make the arrangements at once.’