"Helena." I was so busy looking frank, I missed the flush on her own face that ought to have told me the seed pearl in this oyster was a fake.

"Know those barbarians, Helena?"

"No."

"So they grabbed you where?"

"In our house."

I whistled slowly. That was a surprise.

Remembering made her indignant, which made her more talkative. They had snatched her in broad daylight.

"They clanged the bell as bold as brass, barged past the porter, burs!" through the house, pulled me out to a carrying chair and raced down the street! When we got to the Forum the crowds slowed them, so I jumped out and ran away."

They had threatened her enough to keep her quiet, though clearly not enough to quash her spirit.

"Any idea where they were taking you?"

She said not.

"Now don't be worried!" I reassured her. "Tell me, how old are you?"

She was sixteen. O Jupiter!

"Married?"

"Do I look like a person who is married?" She looked like a person who soon should be!

"Papa any plans? Perhaps he has his eye on some well-bred army officer, home from Syria or Spain?"

She seemed interested in the concept, but shook her head. I could see one good reason for kidnapping this beauty. I improved on my trustworthy look. "Any of papa's friends been ogling you too keenly? Has your mother introduced you to any spruce young sons of her childhood friends?"

"I haven't a mother," she interrupted calmly.

There was a pause while I wondered at her odd way of putting it. Most people would say "My mother's dead', or whatever. I worked out that her noble mama was in excellent health, probably found in bed with a footman and divorced in disgrace.

"Excuse me professional question any special admirer your family knows nothing about?"

Suddenly she burst into giggles. "Oh do stop being so silly! There's nobody like that!"