`Oh, a tragic victim of a bad father!' Helena scoffed. `I wonder what his mother is like?'

`She was not in court. Dutiful matron who plays no part in public affairs, I expect.'

`Knows about nothing, cares about less,' Helena growled. She believed a Roman matron's role was to take strong umbrage at her husband's failings.

`The son may have a wife of his own too.'

`Some washed-out whimpering wraith,' decided my forthright girl. `I bet she parts her hair in the middle and has a high little voice. I bet she dresses in white. I bet she faints if a slave spits… I hate this family.'

`They may be charming.'

`Then I apologise,' Helena said. Adding viciously, `And I bet the young wife wears lots of dainty bangles – on both wrists!'

Her brothers had emptied all the food dishes so began to take more interest. `When they worked the scam,' suggested Justinus, `it probably helped that Papa received the bribes while Junior sealed the dodgy deals behind the scenes. A little separation would let them cover their tracks better.'

`Almost too well,' I told him. `I heard Silius had a hard time winning.

Helena nodded. `My father said the verdict caused surprise. Everyone was sure Metellus was as guilty as Hades, but the case had dragged on too long. It was mired in bad feeling and had lost public interest. Silius Italicus was reckoned to have bungled the prosecution and Paccius Africanus, who defended Metellus, was thought to be the better advocate.'

`He's a viper.' I remembered him going for me harshly at the trial.

`Doing his job?' asked Helena mischievously. `So why do you think Metellus was successfully convicted, Marcus?'

`He was a grubby cheat.'

`That would not have mattered.' Helena smiled drily.

‘They voted against him on technicalities.'

‘Such as?'

It was obvious, and quite simple: `He thought he had the court in his pocket – he despised them and he let it show. The jury felt the same as you, love. They hated him.'