Alexandria (mdf-1) by Lindsey Davis

Author:Lindsey Davis [Davis, Lindsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_classic

‘Philetus? Make a decision?’ Even the senatorial wide-boys laughed.

They had passed the list in to the Prefect like a red-hot brick. Knowing how to take care of himself, he biffed it straight back out and asked them to brief him on what action to take. It was too important to remain in an in-tray. They were stuck. They asked me.

‘If in doubt, consult the Emperor. ’That could take months. ‘The list is a travesty, incidentally. I recommend you make additions.’

‘Can we add names?’

‘A Prefect can always call in extra candidates. He should do so. It demonstrates that he is exercising his judgement and experience, not just acquiescing weakly to whatever is put in front of him.’

‘He will like that! Who should he call in?’

‘Timosthenes, for one.’ They wrote it down. Beneficiaries of fine educations, they could write. I was pleased to see it. ‘When the old man asks why, say: “Timosthenes is already holder of a similar post at the Serapeion. He runs that library well. He is not so academically eminent as the others, but a solid candidate, so in view of the Emperor’s preference for appointments made on merit, you advise that Timosthenes should be considered”.’

They wrote that down too. One of them could do shorthand. ‘Sounds good.’

‘I am an informer. We earn our fees.’

‘Anybody else?’

‘If the Prefect - or his noble lady - has ever shown a particular interest in tragic drama, suggest a man called Aeacidas.’ ‘His wife enjoys lyre music. He follows gladiating.’

‘Goodbye, sad tragedian then!’

The Palace was cool. Out of doors, the Khamseen had dropped but without the wind we had a stonking hot midday which made me just as stressed. Wherever I decided to go next, even home for lunch, I would find myself sweating and debilitated. I faced this prospect with mild depression.

Fortunately, I spotted Numerius Tenax, the centurion. I told him if he could find an excuse to go for lunch so I could pick his expert brains, I would buy him the drink he had offered to buy me when we first met. He pretended to be unravelling the clauses in my offer. But he appreciated drinking on my imperial expenses (as he thought). When he took me to his local bar, we raised a toast to Vespasian.

I relayed the latest developments. Tenax grimaced. ‘I’m glad you’re in charge, not me.’

‘Thanks, Tenax! The gods know where I go next.’

We drank, and ate saucers of savouries, in silence.

Tenax had nothing to tell me about the intellectuals’ feuds. However bitter their rivalries, it would be a war of words. Only if they started throwing punches would the military be involved; that was unlikely. ‘They tend to fix things themselves. When I saw you at the Museion the other day, Falco, it was my first visit for ages. The Prefect leaves them alone. We never get involved.’

I mentioned my theory that there were financial difficulties. ’Anything cropped up on audit, do you know?’

‘What audit? The Museion is given a big fat annual budget; it’s from the imperial treasury now, of course.

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