“Is it untrue that he has become an autocrat’?” Delaneyasked. “As Cassius has said, a king in all but name? Never has one man ruledall of Rome as dictator for life. How can Rome preserve her freedoms if allpower is vested in one man? It seems dangerous to me.”
“You can’t seriously believe that Caesar would deprive Romansof their freedom” Lucas said.
“I know this is a subject on which we do not agree. Marcus.”said Delaney. “but I also know that your perceptions have been colored by yourbrother’s correspondence over all these many years. You have studied Caesar’scampaigns and fought them over in your mind until you know every step thatevery soldier took. Caesar has become a hero to you. as to many others. I donot dispute that Caesar is a great man, perhaps even a good man, but he isstill a man and not a god. And men can be corrupted. Especially by power.”
“Quintullus speaks the truth,” said Brutus. “Power is seductive.”
“And we all know that Caesar is easily seduced,” added Cassiuswith a smile.
“You are merely envious.” said Antony.
“Of Caesar’s sharing Cleopatra’s bed?” asked Cassius. “Thereis no shortage of beautiful women in Rome. Antony. I have no need of foreigndiversions.”
“That is still another matter.” said Delaney. “I have heardit said that Cleopatra has great influence with Caesar. Is it right that aforeign queen should hold such influence in Rome? Especially a queen that holdsno respect for Rome’s traditions. Is Egypt Rome’s possession or is Rome Egypt’s?Why must Rome’s ruler be protected by an Egyptian bodyguard? Are there noRomans suited to the task?”
The bodyguard was a gift front Cleopatra.” Antony replied. “Caesarkeeps them merely to please her.”
“Or perhaps he does not trust his fellow Romans’?” said Delaney.
“You are speaking like a fool. Fabius!” said Lucas.
“I am only speaking as one who is concerned.” Delaney replied.“Concerned about so much power invested in one man. Concerned that autocracy isnot compatible with freedom. There is a danger here, Marcus. I sometimes fearfor Rome.”
“I think perhaps that what you fear is greatness,” Antonysaid. “Most men are not capable of greatness. They are little men and th
ey donot understand it. What little men do not understand, they fear. I do not feargreatness, Quintullus. And I have no use for fearful little men. Good night to
“Spoken like a true lackey,” Cassius said wryly as Antony departed.“But it grows late and I am weary of the evening’s entertainment. I would beinterested to hear more of your views, Quintullus. We should continue this discussion.Will you be at the baths tomorrow?”
“Yes. I had planned to go sometime in the morning,” said Delaney.
“Good. Then perhaps we shall see each other there. Goodnight to you, Quintullus.”
“And to you.” Delaney said. Most of the guests had alreadyleft. He waited till Cassius had left with Brutus and then turned to Lucas andTravers. “I think the fish just bit.”
“Just be careful,” Travers said. “Don’t seem too eager.Cassius is nobody’s fool.”
“Neither am I,” Delaney said.
“What did you think of Marcian and Sabinus?” asked Andre.
“I didn’t get much chance to talk to them,” Delaney said.
“Marcian didn’t seem very interested in conversation,” Lucassaid. He disappeared somewhere with a couple of the women. And Sabinus spentmost of his time talking with the charioteers. Of course, him being a horsebreeder, that’s not really surprising?
“He was the big winner at the races the other day,” saidAndre. “He took Antony and his friends for over one hundred thousand sesterces.”She turned to Travers. “You said that Marcian was probably the only one whocould have fixed the race and Sabinus was with him.”
Travers nodded. “It’s possible that they were in collusion.Marcian said that he was trying to purchase Sabinus’ farm and estate. Maybe heset up the win to help his business deal. I can’t see where such a risk wouldhave been justified, but some men will do almost anything to win when it comesto business dealings. However, if that’s the case. I don’t see any connectionto our mission.”
“No. neither do I.” said Lucas. “They don’t seem like menwho are interested in politics. But I think we made good progress tonight withthe conspirators. Delaney can follow up on that and tomorrow, when you take meto meet Caesar. I’ll see what I can do to get into his confidence. That stillleaves Cleopatra.”
“I’ll figure something out.” said Andre. She frowned. “Still,there’s something about that Sabinus that bothers me. I can’t quite put myfinger on it, but I’d swear there’s something familiar about him.”
At night, the streets of Rome were often noisy. Produce andsupplies were brought into the city on heavy carts, fights broke out, thievesand cutthroats plied their trade. But some areas of the city were quiet.Marshall moved softly down the graveled paths of the gardens on the banks ofthe Tiber. It was about three o’clock in the morning and a cool breeze wasblowing. He came to a sitting area where a large sundial had been set up andstopped, waiting. A moment later, someone said his name.
“Simmons?”
Marshall turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows.As the man came closer, he could make him out more clearly. He was dressedincongruously for the time and any Roman seeing him would have puzzled over hisstrange clothing. The man was wearing a 20th-century three-piece charcoal-graybusiness suit, with a button-down white shirt and ‘a red silk foulard tie. Hishair was short, dark, and neatly styled. He had a closely trimmed beard thatran along his jawline and there was the faint bulge of a shoulder holsterbeneath his jacket on the right side.