I made a note in my pocketbook with a stylus I kept handy. 'Forename, Severina; cognomen unknown... Is she attractive?'

'Juno, how should I know? She must have something, to persuade four different men - men of substance - to marry her.'

I made another note, this time mentally: bright personality. (That could be difficult.) And possibly intelligent. (Even worse!)

'Does she make a secret of her past?'

'No.'

'Flaunts it?'

'No to that too. She just lets it be known as if having three short-lived husbands who happened to leave her everything were commonplace.'

'Clever.'

'Falco, I told you she was dangerous!' Things began to look intriguing (I was a man; I was normal: dangerous women always fascinated me).

'Pollia, let us be clear about what you want from me: I can investigate Severina, hoping to nail her with her past indiscretions -'

'You'll find no evidence. There was a praetor's enquiry after her third husband died,' Pollia complained. 'Nothing came of it.'

'Praetors miss things. It may help us. Even gold-diggers are human; so they make mistakes. After three successes, people like this start believing themselves demigods; that's when people like me can trap them. Tell me, is Hortensius Novus aware of her history?'

'We made him ask her about it. She had an answer for everything.'

'A professional bride would come prepared. I'll try to frighten her off anyway. Sometimes finding themselves under scrutiny is enough- they scuttle away to prey on an easier mark. Have you considered offering her money?'

'If it will help. We have plenty.'

I grinned, thinking ahead to my bill. I had known rich people who hid their wealth with decent secrecy, and I had known men who owned immense estates but treated it quite matter-of-factly. The open vulgarity of Sabina Pollia's boast made me realise that I had stepped into a brash new world. 'I'll find out her price then-'