I do! But, I confess I am dreading it Who knows what state he will be in…' Next minute the mother was telling us that his condition was amazingly stable.. He has decided to continue his journey, so he will have time to come to terms…

Did that not surprise you?' I thought it astonishing, and I let her see it

No, he wrote us a long letter to explain. He said the other people on the trip are comforting him. He will stay among his new friends. Otherwise, he would have to make his way back to Rome, entirely alone, whilst in such trouble and unhappiness.

Unconvinced, I cut across this.. So what does he say about the death?'

Once more, the mother looked anxious. She was intelligent enough to know we could find out the facts some other way, so she coughed.. Valeria was found one morning, outside the lodging house, lying dead.' Already despising Statianus, I wondered what kind of newly-wed husband spent a whole night separated from his bride, not raising the alarm. One who had had a fight with her, perhaps?

Was there any thought of who might have done such a thing?' Helena took over before I lost my temper

Apparently not' The mother of Statianus seemed a little too tight-lipped.

No doubt the local authorities investigated thoroughly?'

A woman in the party summoned a magistrate. Created a fuss.' Tullia seemed to think this responsible move was over-officious; then she told us why.. Statianus found the investigation very difficult; the magistrate was set against him A story began that my son must have had something to do with what had happened to Valeria – that maybe they had quarrelled – either that she had lost interest in him, or that his behaviour towards her drove her away…'

The mother had said too much and knew it. Helena commented,. You can see how a breach might happen with a new married couple, youngsters who had known one another only slightly beforehand, under the stress of travelling.