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highlighted. Go on."
    " 'Two sons. Eco, adopted as a street urchin, age about forty, married to a daughter of the Menenius family. No military career. Resides in old family house on Esquiline Hill. Sometimes assists his father. Political connections resemble his father's— wide-ranging but fluid and uncertain. Loyalty to the Great One: Questionable.' "
    She glanced up from her text. "The next part was also underlined: ' Of particular interest: second son, Meto, also adopted. Originally a slave owned by Marcus Crassus. Age about thirty. Military career from early age. Rumored to have fought for Catilina at battle of Pistoria. Briefly served under Pompey in Year of Rome 692. Since 693, with Caesar. Numerous episodes of bravery in Gaul. Worked his way up through ranks to join inner circle. Notable for literary skills: handles correspondence, helped to edit Caesar's account of Gallic campaigns. Firmly in Caesar's camp— some say in Caesar's ...' " Her voice trailed off.
    "Yes? Go on."
    " 'Some say in Caesar's bed, as well.' "
    "What?"
    "That's what it says, Papa. More or less; the original was a bit more uncouth. That part was in Greek, but I knew all the words."
    "Outrageous!"
    "Is it?"
    "Meto loves Caesar, of course; you'd have to love a man to risk your life for him on any given day. Hero worship— it's a cult among military men. I've never understood it, myself. But that's not the same as ..."
    Diana shrugged. "Meto's never said anything explicit to me about himself and Caesar, but even so, just from the way he talks about their relationship, I've always assumed there must be ..."
    "Assumed what?"
    "Papa, there's no need to raise your voice."
    "Well! It appears you're not the only one who's been making wild assumptions. In a confidential report intended for Pompey's eyes, no less! Caesar's enemies have been spreading this kind of tale about him for thirty years, ever since he befriended King Nicomedes. You can still hear him called the Queen of Bithynia in the Forum. But how dare they draw Meto into their rumormongering? Don't roll your eyes, Diana! You seem to think I'm making something out of nothing."
    "I think there's no need to shout, Papa."
    "Yes. Well ..."
    She laid her hand on mine. "We're all worried about Meto, Papa. About his being so close to Caesar ... and what's going to happen next. Only the gods know how it will all turn out."
    I nodded. The room seemed suddenly very quiet. The sunlight from the garden was already softening; days are short in Januarius. My temples began to throb. We had been working for hours. The only break had been to stoke the fire in the brazier, to ward off the growing chill. The brazier had been burning since first light. The room was smoky.
    I glanced at Diana's text and saw that she had more left to read. "Go on," I said quietly. "What else?"
    " 'Few slaves in the household. Among them: two boys, brothers acquired from the widow of Clodius shortly after his death, originally stableboys at his villa on the Appian Way. Mopsus (older) and Androcles (younger). Often act as messengers for Gordianus. Little jugs have big handles.' " Diana frowned. "I'm sure that's what it says."
    "It's a quotation from a play by Ennius," I said. "It means that little boys have big ears— implying that Mopsus and Androcles might make useful informers. Go on."
    "There's a bit more about Mopsus and Androcles: 'Given Gordianus's inclination to adopt orphans and slaves, will he end up with two more sons?' " She raised an eyebrow and waited for a comment.
    "Go on," I finally said. "What else?"
    "A summary: 'Subject possesses no political power and little wealth, yet is held in high regard by many who do. Once called by Cicero "the most honest man in Rome," but where does his reputation for integrity come from? By never firmly taking sides in any dangerous controversy, he manages to appear above the fray and so remains able to move freely back and forth between sides. Even when employed by one side,