He glanced at me, pleased by the compliment, then graciously answered my query. 'I should say everyone sampled almost everything. Pollia left every scrap which she could call gristle; Felix looked for fat to peel off; the guest pushed his food around all night -'
'Any reason?'
'A man who does not know how to eat.'
'Or how to live!' I cried, glancing enthusiastically at his menu.
Viridovix accepted the compliment. 'As you say! Novus as usual devoured a large plateful, then called for a further helping. But none of them really noticed what they ate.'
'Disappointing?'
'Normal, Falco. In this house.'
'Does that rankle with you?'
'Not enough,' responded Viridovix shrewdly, 'to make me want to murder them!'
'It's my theory cooks commit their murders when they overheat in the glare of the ovens-then their method is to run amuck with meat cleavers.'
'Poison would be highly unprofessional!' he smiled.
'Tell me-as an observant man-were any of those present nervous?' I carefully avoided naming Severina Zotica.
'All of them,' he replied at once.
'Even Novus?'
'Especially him.' Somehow that was a surprise.
'What accounted for this edginess?' He gave me a wide-mouthed Gallic smile again, full of intelligent charm. I laughed. 'Oh sorry; you will not know details; you are just the cook!'
'Ah, cooks are all ears while people eat their food!'
'Going to tell me?'
'It was because of the business they had gathered to discuss,' I waited. He timed it nicely for effect: 'I think, forming a new partnership.' This time he actually grinned at me.
'In what field?'
'City property.'
'Did you learn any details?'
'No, Falco. When they were ready to talk, all of us serving were dismissed. I expect you want to ask me,' Viridovix suggested quietly, 'if I saw Hortensius Novus eat or drink anything that nobody else touched?'
'I would probably have worked around to it!'
'Nothing,' the cook disappointed me. 'Most of them dipped into most of the dishes and all of the wines. If poison was in the food, they are all dead. The servers were being attentive-but it was also a party where people made much of passing delicacies to their neighbours -'
'Best behaviour night?'
'Much graciousness. Too much.'
'So the general mood was amicable?'
'It seemed so, but the tension was high. I was afraid it would infect the servers; something would be dropped. A harpist had been engaged, but he was paid off without playing. They finished fairly early -'
'Did you see what happened then?'
'Of course; we were waiting to clear .. . After they came out, Crepito and Felix stood in the portico for some time, with their guest-'
'Still discussing?'
'Low voices-something Novus had done seemed to be causing controversy. Then I overheard all of them going on drinking, but nothing came of it; thee guest said he had something else to do. When he left, Felix and Crepito disappeared, heads together.'
'Happy?'
'No; I would say.'
'Where was Novus?'
'Novus had stomped off somewhere.'
'With Severina Zotica?'
'No,' said the cook. 'I should have told you earlier -Severina Zotica was never there!'
At that point a shoe scratched on marble. Viridovix dropped a warning hand on my arm. I turned on my seat. Standing in the doorway in a wait of garlic and frankincense was a man who could only be another of the Hortensius triumvirate.
Chapter XXXV
He looked older than Novus, though similar: the same skin tones and well-fed solidity. A fleshy body with a heavy head, and a bushy black moustache which hid the movements of his mouth.
He exhibited a strange lack of curiosity about who I was or what I might be talking about here in their family dining room, with the family cook. Instead, he crossed in front of us and seized the fluted blue flagon from which Viridovix and I had helped ourselves. Luckily I had previously put down my cup on the floor where it was hidden behind my feet. Viridovix somehow let his winecup burrow invisibly into the folds of our couch's coverlet. The freedman glanced at the flask, spotting that some of the liquor was missing.
'Novus couldn't wait!' he grumbled.
I detached myself from Viridovix. 'Excuse me, sir. Are you Crepito?'
'Felix.' The one married to Pollia. He was still scowling at the flask as if accusing Hortensius Novus of starting it. Neither Viridovix nor I disillusioned him.
'I'm Marcus Didius Falco. Here on an assignment for your wife...' Impossible to tell if he knew anything about it. 'If Hortensius Crepito is anywhere around can I request an urgent interview?'
He lifted the flask. 'Special vintage! Crepito and Novus are both about to join me-'