Talbot Mundy

“ NOW Tros was utterly perplexed what course to take, for which reason he was careful to look confident. He knew the information that he had from Chloe might be a network of lies. There might be no truth whatever, for instance, in her statement that Cæsar was on his way to Gades; on the other hand it might be true, and Balbus might be perfectly aware of it. Examining Balbus' eyes, he became sure of one thing—Balbus was no idealist; a mere suggestion of an altruistic aim would merely stir the man's suspicion. ”

“ Tros asked him.
Balbus stiffened, instantly assertive of his dignity.
"Some men will dare almost anything—once!" he remarked. "It would be a dangerous indiscretion!"
"Even if it were the price of the manumission of a slave?"
"Even so."
"Very well," said Tros. "There is a female slave in Gades whom I covet. Can you order the sale of that slave to me?"
"Not so," said Balbus. "But I can order the slave manumitted at the price at which the owner has declared that slave for taxation purposes, and provided the slave pays the manumission tax of ten per cent. on her market value." ”

“ Like any other Roman governor, he had been forced to send enormous sums to Rome to defray his own debts and to bribe the professional blackmailers who lived by accusing absentees before the Senate. He had not been long enough in Gades to accumulate reserves of extorted coin.
Tros understood the situation perfectly. He also knew how men in debt snatch eagerly at temporary respite.
"There is no haste for the money," he remarked. "Let Simon write an order on your treasury which you accept for payment, say, in six months' time."
Balbus nodded. ”

“ I will lie to him about your good looks and your loyalty," she promised, and motioned to Simon to climb into his litter.
"Be your memory as nimble as your wits and feet!" Metellus answered, shrugging his shoulders and signing to his men to let the party pass.
Those Balearic slingers lined along the beach were a godsend from Tros' point of view. There was a crowd of hucksters, pimps, idlers and loose women noisily protesting because the soldiers would not let them approach the shore. ”

“ Beyond them, in the shadow of the wall, eight more legonaries stood guard over a group of miserable prisoners, gibing at them when they shuddered at the screams that could be heard there even more distinctly than in the street because the stone arch of the entrance magnified the noise. ”

“ I will sign the order for Simon's money and for the manumission of that slave girl just to let you feel my generosity. Thereafter, we will discuss the terms on which you shall—ah—shall—ah—act as the instrument of fate."
↑ Balbus was born in Africa. ”