18. • Even the insula tenement blocks of the poor are searched
19. • Hope surges for a moment when the raised horrea at the granary are
found – but with no result
20. • No haystack is left un-needled – but all to no avail
21. • As the reports come back Tribune Amantus must accept his failure
22. • The tribune presents himself at Casa Carpe to report his failure
23. • To his surprise his welcome, despite the corpse on the couch, is
remarkably warm
24. • So warm in fact that he is even introduced to the real Princess Selene – a
few retainers and an unfortunate double is small price to pay to convince
the Senate she is threatened
25. • While outside the citizens get a little free entertainment as the venatii
from the local gladiator school turn out to round up the beasts
26. • …. And so we say Ave et Vale to sleepy Carpena…. For the
moment