The Victorious Centurion

By Werner Manke

It was the time in history when Rome with its legions ruled much of the known world with an iron fist.  Latinus Berinas, one of Rome's young centurions, had returned from his conquest of a Germanic tribe that had withstood the advance of Tiberius' army seventeen years earlier.

Now the streets of Rome were alive with throngs of jubilant people, young and old.  They lined the steets to Capitoline Hill and Jupiter's temple in anticipation of seeing the centurion Latinus Berinas lead his troop of hundred of the empire's most accomplished wariors from the Field of Mars to Victory Square.

Latinus had risen quickly in rank to Legatus Legonis, the second highest rank to which a legionnaire could aspire.  In campaigns he commanded ten cohorts, nearly seven thousand men.  His fighting and strategic planning skills were envied by most officers of the highest rank.  His men admired him.  They trusted him with their life. Tiberius, the emperor, held him up as the ideal commander and rewarded him generously after each victorious campaign.

His future looked bright. He had riches and property. Antonia, a senator's beautiful daughter, loved him.  No one doubted that he would lead other legions to victory in years to come.  Yet, there were powerful men in Rome who devised secret schemes aimed at disgracing and crushing him.  They saw his victories and the emperor's praise of his conquests a threat to their evil ambitions. While he defeated their wicked plots and remained victrorious, a man hanging on a cross, whose heart he pierced on a hill called Golgotha in far-off Israel, conquered his soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Werner Manke
• Release date: Jan 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393698517

Werner Manke

If one had to describe W. H. Manke in five words the most appropriate words might be: He’s passionate about many things. Manke's family, faith and health rank at the top of his list.  He enjoyed a career in education as teacher, principal and Director of Instruction, and retired after thirty years to have time to pursue other interests.  The years in education taught him much about how humans learn.  Day-to-day observations, common sense and a good deal of research gave him an understanding about what it takes for people to be successful.  He holds a degree with concentrations in English and Education and a Master's degree in Educational Administration and Strategic Planning.  Ask him what he enjoys doing since retirement he’ll tell you, "Ranking at the top with other activities I love to watch my grandchildren at play, to read and to write.  In the last few years I completed five full length novels, published two, and I've recently completed writing Storms over Hawking Manor, a sequel to the first novel I published, Secrets of Hawking Manor."  The later book he edited and formatted at the end of 2014 for Smashwords' distribution to publishers and retailers that sell E-Books.  He had also written a number of articles, short stories and many poems during those years. When he is not near his grandchildren he might be found writing, researching or reading.  He loves to play, coach and watch a number of sports that include soccer, hockey, skiing, fishing as well as collecting.  He delights in the beauty of nature and the arts.  Certain types of paintings and poems and the lyrics and melodies of some songs and hymns cause him to marvel at people's talents.  He continues to study history.  Ask him why he does, he will say, "We can make this a better world, if we consider the actions of individuals and countries of the past, good and bad, that history shows us and include that knowledge in our guidebook to roads not yet taken." He believes humans are the crowning work of creation, sees each person as unique, one of a kind, priceless and able to achieve the greatest deeds as well as sink to the most hideous crimes.  He believes our most urgent task is to guide all children to become compassionate, confident and informed citizen willing to take on the challenge to create a peaceful world where no child goes hungry.

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The Victorious Centurion

License Notes

Thank you for purchasing this novel.  This book remains the copyrighted property of the author.  Please do not redistribute this book to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes.  If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to buy their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.  Thank you for respecting the many months of work of the author.

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Chapter One: Triumphs and Tributes 

The streets of Rome were alive with jubilant people, young and old.  They lined the streets to Capitoline Hill and Jupiter’s temple in anticipation of seeing the Centurion Latinus Berinas lead his troop of hundred of the Empire’s most accomplished soldiers from the Field of Mars to Victory Square.  Latinus had risen quickly in ranks to Legatus Legonis, the second highest rank to which a legionnaire could aspire.  In campaigns he commanded ten cohorts, nearly seven thousand men.  His fighting and strategic planning skills were envied by many officers of the highest rank.  His men admired him.  They trusted him with their life.  Tiberius, the emperor, held him up as the ideal commander and rewarded him generously after each victorious campaign. His future looked bright. 

It was not long before a mob of young Roman youths came running and dancing into view waving willow and myrtle branches and shouting wildly, Hail Latinus. Long live Latinus.  At a short distance there followed in three rows most of Rome’s Senators numbering nearly two hundred.  Dressed in their official togas they walked orderly and dignified but occasionally waved to the multitude applauding them.

Finally, the four-horse chariot came into view that carried the victorious centurion.  Its four stallions, powerful animals, seemed to dance as they pranced along the way with their manes flying with each shake of their head.  The richly decorated chariot also spoke of splendor, but the people’s eyes were riveted on one man standing tall in the chariot.  He wore a crown of laurel and a rich purple, gold embroidered toga.  Latinus stood straight, but instead of acting haughty and proud leading the triumphant procession, he humbly acknowledged the crowds’ cheers waving gently now and then to young and old.  The peaceful smile that graced his face spoke of quiet confidence, strength, integrity and decency to those watching him.

Beside him another young man stood.  Equal in height to Latinus, he stood unmoving and proud.  He wore neither victor’s garment nor a laurel crown, yet he held his head high.  He looked neither to the right or the left but appeared to gaze far off into the distance.  A prince of Germania, he had fought bravely and long with a group of men far outnumber by the Roman legionnaires that had invaded their territory.  His tribe, led by his father, was one of the few tribes Tiberius, before he had become emperor, had not been able to subdue seventeen years earlier.  As conquered foe the young man appeared to be unafraid and unashamed standing next to Latinus.  Unlike most conquered leaders who had been led into Victory Square in the past his hands were not bound, and his feet were not shackled.  To those who took long enough to avert their gaze from Latinus to consider twenty-three-year-old Hermanos, he looked every bit the prince he was, even in the absence of a laurel crown and wearing only a plain tunic that covered his body from his waist to his knees.

Immediately following the chariot a dozen foot soldiers led a few of the many captives the legion had brought back from the conquest.  Thirty or more beautiful maiden, many of them princesses and as many handsome and strong young men, the best of Germania, formed part of that booty.  They carried some of the other spoils of war.  These articles of gold, silver and bronze the victors had plundered after the battle had been won.  The young women in days to come will serve rich Roman families as slaves.  Many of the young men will be required to fight in the arenas or battle with Roman legions going on conquests in distant lands.  Much of the gold, silver and other valuable articles they carried will enlarge the Roman treasury.  It will help pay for the legion’s needs and the roads and aqueducts the conquered people were and in future days will be forced to build for the conquerors.  The people along the streets grew silent watching the young captives pass by.  Only occasionally could one hear a shout of pity ringing out from the sidelines for the captives or an angry sneer at a conquered prince.  Not far behind, at the end of the procession, a mounted troop of one hundred men dressed battle ready but for this day unarmed brought the crowd to live again.

The procession circled Victory Square before ascending to Jupiter’s temple.  With the temple in view Latinus spoke to the youth standing beside him.  I will take some of the spoils from your country and offer them to Jupiter.  The six young daughters of the Lord Allerich and some of the treasure they carry will be my offering to the god of love, he said looking at Hermanos.  It is my duty to perform this service.  This treasure will be displayed in the temple and will be used to finance the temple’s projects and feasts.  The maiden will be assigned various tasks and will warm the beds of the priests for a season.

The young man beside him remained silent for a moment before he replied.  I know you are an honorable man.  You proved it so in battle.  But know this.  The maiden will look for ways to offer their lives to the goddess Sandraudiga who dyes the sand red rather than be defiled in a priest’s bed.  Their blood will cry out to you before the moon is new again.  He closed his eyes and said no more.  In his mind he saw Hermine, one of the young women walking behind the chariot.  She was one of the maidens to be offered to the temple’s priests.  She had promised her love to him and he had promised to love no other.  Silently he prayed to Heimdallr, the god his ancestors worshipped who was said to brighten the world.  He pleaded with him to spare the young women.

To the people’s shouts of joy and congratulations the procession came to a stop at the front of the temple.  Latinus turned once in a circle and waved to the crowd.  Facing Hermanos he gave orders to the foot soldiers, who stood immediately behind the chariot, to take the treasures the first six maiden carried and follow him into the temple.  To the youth standing beside him who looking questioning into his eyes he said, I will give you a challenge and an opportunity to rescue the six maidens, a challenge I can successfully defend before Tiberius.  As you know, the emperor wishes that you fight a bull in the arena in a few days with only a dagger for a weapon.  If you subdue that animal and wish to defend the honor of the maiden, armed with your dagger you must fight a lion.  Should the beast not maul you to death, Gregorus will be waiting for you with sword and shield.  Be victorious in all three combats and until my next assignment on which you will accompany me, you will serve in the temple.  Your service may well involve hard labor and unpleasant tasks.  I must not hide the truth from you.  It will cost you a great deal, perhaps even your life, to rescue the six maidens from the beds of the priests.  Latinus stopped and surveyed Hermanos before he said, Choose your fate this moment Hermanos.

For the first time since becoming a captive Hermanos smiled.  I thank you, general, he said.  Happily will I take up your challenge and dream of victory this night.

Hearing his captive’s reply caused Latinus to smile also.  He had seen the young man fight.  He had heard him spur his men on in battle until his last man had fallen, and he had watched him battle on alone attacking a score of the legion’s best fighters until he had overcome them.  Not until he had ordered three of his lieutenants to divert Hermanos attention while he had thrown a net over him from behind him did the carnage the young prince had created stop, and the legion had won its victory.

You will have to conserve your energy fighting the beasts, Latinus said to him.  Gregorus has never been beaten, and winning his next fight is to secure his freedom. Tiberius commanded it. Gregorus will fight more fiercely than he has ever done."

He is a captive then, as I am?

He is.  He is a proud Gaul, the son of a powerful prince.

I would hate to end his life.  How can I save him?

Latinus looked at his captive for a moment in wonder.  The man who had gored to death many of his legionnaires had pity for another man.  Your added combats will be one of my gifts to Tiberius, the emperor.  They allow me to hope the emperor will permit me to grant you this challenge.  If so, it will be mine to decide if it is to be a fight to the death.  The merchant who owns this Gregorus demands a high price for his head.

Then I beg you.  Do not pay that price and for his slave’s sake do not make it a fight to the death.  But how can he gain his freedom after I defeat him?

If I pay for a fight to the death and you spare him with a sign of respect for him in the name of Tiberius, his owner must grant him his freedom.  The merchant will not chance to do otherwise for Tiberius will be in his seat at the colosseum.  Latinus chuckled before he continued.  You speak as if you will be the victor.  They say Gregorus is a mighty and crafty warrior and knows many tricks.

Centurion, I beseech you to order the fight to be to the death. 

For a long time Latinus considered the young man beside him.  He had learned to respect him on the battlefield.  Since then, he had come to realize he had grown fond of him, as of a younger brother.  He also realized to grant him his wish would likely lead to Hermanos’ death.  Not only would he face a most fearsome adversary, but the beasts he was to subdue would likely exhaust his strength and energy and wound him.  To not grant his wish would make him his enemy for all time.  I shall go and consult Jupiter’s chief priest the Pontifex Maximus, he said in reply.

A day later a buzz rippled through the streets of Rome.  It spoke of a fight to the death in the colosseum with Gregorus fighting for his freedom against a young Germanic prince called Hermanos who had been captured by Latinus during his recent conquest.  It became quickly known this captive had never fought in any arena, but he had slain many warriors in battles. The betting did not take long to begin.  Few people had seen the old and the young, the rich and the poor placing their bets more feverishly than they did in the days that followed.  Only the foolish hearted dared to bet against Gregorus who had become a hero in the eyes of many.  He had faced twenty-two opponents in the three years he had been a slave in Rome.  Two of these fights had been fights to the death.  All men he had faced were formidable foes, and he had beaten them all.  In some of the fights he had two opponents to overcome to be victorious. His strength and skill no one questioned.

Latinus was summoned to appear before the emperor three days later.  He had returned to Rome a victor, and Tiberius wanted to personally honor him.  Tiberius had become emperor twelve years earlier in the year fourteen, after Augustus’ sons had perished and Augustus had adopted him.  The emperor as a general had also led a legion into Germania years earlier and knew of the difficulties and dangers the men of the Roman forces faced on such a conquest.  To show his appreciation to Latinus for subduing the Germanic tribe that over the years had withstood several attempts by the legions to conquer it, Tiberius gave him an estate on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea. 

This estate had been the property of a senator who had disapproved of Tiberius’ wish to implement an additional tax on the people already burdened by many taxes.  The senator had argued the tax might lead to a revolt in places like Judea, but the emperor, on the advice of the Praetorian Prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus, had not been willing to consider the risks.  He had called the senator a traitor, as Aelius Sejanus had suggested he should do. 

To the emperor’s pleasure Latinus told him of the challenge he wished to give his slave and how he planned to reward him if he was victorious.  He said he would order the young man not only to fight the bull Tiberius had wished him to face but also a lion and Gregorus, if he approved.  The emperor applauded and quickly approved the challenge Latinus had given the young Hermanos.  Tiberius told Latinus he had done well for it had been far too long since he had enjoyed a fight to the death.  In parting with Latinus the emperor asked him of the kind of chance he thought his slave had in the fight against Gregorus.

Hermanos is skilled with sword and dagger, he advised Tiberius.  He is as quick and agile as a gazelle and craftier than a lion hunting its prey.  I believe he is equal to Gregorus in every way and will give a good account of himself.

You will accept my wager then of ten thousand denarii, Latinus Berinas.  I believe Gregorus cannot be beaten.  It is a pity, but you shall surely forfeit your slave.

Latinus resented this turn of events.  He saw no way he could avoid falling into disfavor with the emperor.  He knew, if he refused to bet against him, he would be branded cowardly by him and unwilling to please him.  If he made the bet and won, the emperor would feel his general’s judgement was superior to his own and resent him.  With worry standing on his brow he turned to look at his emperor and said, As you wish, my lord.

His resentment toward Tiberius soon gave way to thinking of Hermanos as he left the palace.  He had observed the young man practicing at dawn that morning.  The speed with which he had moved and the difficult maneuvers he had performed had amazed him.  He could not imagine Hermanos would lose to any man.  Still, as he walked to his horse it worried him that Hermanos would first need to battle against two powerful beasts that might sap much of his energy.  I will instruct him to run up and down Palatine Hill several times daily until the day of the contest to strengthen his endurance, he said silently.

Before riding far his thoughts turned to the gift the emperor had given him above the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea.  He felt sorry it was taken from Gaius Pantonius whose property it once had been.  He did not recall having met the senator and knew nothing of his family members who had been granted to remain living in the villa.  It’s a little more than an hour’s ride to this property, he thought, and I have nothing pressing to do.  Not until the morrow will I meet with Flavius and Augustus.  I shall go and see this gift.  He turned his horse toward the sea.  A light breeze from the sea touched his forehead. It felt soothing.  He looked forward to seeing the estate and gently prodded his stallion to a swifter gait.

The afternoon sun stood low in the sky before he reached the roadway leading to the villa.  The distance to the property he had found was farther south into the countryside from Rome than he had first thought.  More than two hours had passed since he had set out for it.  This must be at least a quarter of the way to Naples, he calculated.  He realized when he neared Oleander Meadows, his emperor’s gift to him, that two of his mother’s cousins had thriving estates in the area.  He had visited them as a child and youth and had found them pleasant and kind people.  One family had a large estate where they raised cattle, sold milk and cheese.  Two of their three children were of his age.  Felix was a year younger than he and Cecilia a year older.  He knew both now lived near Rome and had families of their own.  Their youngest daughter he thought would be the same age as two or three of Allerich’s daughters. 

The second family owned an orchard.  They sold grapes and made several kinds of fine wines that were well known in the country and beyond.  Their one son was several years younger than he and for several years had studied architecture.  While he still lived with his parents his services were in demand in the empire’s cities and the countryside.  His work often took him to other far off lands as well.

Spurring his horse Latinus decided to stop to visit the family’s friends before returning to Rome.  After the road along which he rode made a sharp turn, the mansion of Oleander Meadow and the sea beyond it came into view.  He reined in the stallion and surveyed the scene.  The view down to the sea dazzled him.  For several minutes he feasted on what he saw.  Slowly he let his eyes rest on his estate.  The main house looked stately and large.  He counted twenty-three balconies at the front of the house with six of those on each of the two levels of its two wings and the rest on the main portion of the house which was a story higher than its wings.  Bright flower planters on top of each balustrade of the balconies looked inviting and beckoned him to ride closer.  An impressive front door in the center of the main part of the house stood partially open.  Once he rode through the gate of the estate given to him by Tiberius for his recent victories, he decided first to stop at the caretaker’s residence whose name on the parchment of property ownership identified him as Marcus Magnus.  The man had learned a new owner would come to view the estate before long.  He had heard of Latinus and his conquests.  His grey hair marked him as an elder.  Yet his face and figure argued with that view.  By his speech Latinus knew he was a man of learning.  By his conduct he showed himself a man of humility and manners.  He bid Latinus to enter his home and asked his wife to provide refreshments for their guest.

I thank you for your kindness and ask for your forgiveness for not announcing when I intended to come to view this property, Latinus said.  I had no other pressing business to finish this day and decided on the spur of the moment to come to view the estate.  Please tell me a little about this beautiful property.  What are its qualities, conditions and number of employees?  Most of all what of its former inhabitants?  I mean to visit them today."

The caretaker gave him a detailed description of the size of the property and its buildings.  He described carefully the grape, wine and olive products produced and marketed.  He had spoken with pride of the horses the senator’s ancestors had raised and that they continued to supply the legions and many of the country’s young men of means with swift stallions.  The senator and his family members are noble people, honest and kind.  His wife and his young daughter had been permitted to remain at the estate.  They reside now in the east wing of the mansion.  It is the smallest portion of the house.  It contains six of the usual rooms of a villa and is well furnished as is all the house.  The wife is the daughter of the former highly regarded senator Lucius Sulla.  Antonia, the daughter, is nineteen years old.  She is well educated and is kind but has been spurned by Rome’s young men since the senator’s unjust imprisonment.  Both the wife and daughter visit the senator several times each month.  It is their hope and mine that the senator will receive a pardon in the years to come.  The senator’s son, Marcellus, serves in the legions in Syria and Palestine.  They will all be sad to have to vacate their home, as I shall also be.  You will, no doubt, have your own man you wish to install as caretaker here.  The estate’s business ventures are all profitable.  I have kept extensive records of all sales, expenses and profits.  You may wish to examine these at your leisure.

Latinus smiled at the man.  His estimation of him had increased seeing he was unafraid to speak against the senator’s imprisonment.  He told him, I can see you are greatly committed to this family and the estate, Marcus.  It is my hope you will wish to remain here in your position and in time come to regard me as highly.  As for the senator’s wife and daughter, I will offer them to remain here for as long as they wish.  I have no wife.  My family is well endowed with property and homes, as I am also.  I have another estate near Anxanum, the village where I was born.  My friends will remain better friends kept at a little distance.  He chuckled before he added, They will say the same of me.  So, you see Marcus, I may in time come to enjoy the company of the senator’s family.  But now, if I may ask, and you have no pressing business to attend, introduce me first to the senator’s family before showing me around this fine estate. The afternoon is wearing on.

I thank you for your offer to manage the estate for you.  It pleases me to accept your offer and remain here with my wife.  She will thank you also.  I believe Lady Cornelia will be overjoyed by your good will, as will be the senator and all his family.  To be able to continue to call this estate home will lessen the great anxiety they have all suffered.  He extended his hand to Latinus.  His countenance mirrored the pleasure he felt to be able to serve his new master and look out for the senator’s family as well.

Lady Cornelia had seen the centurion approach when he first arrived.  She had been informed a day earlier that the emperor meant to reward him for his successful conquest with the estate that not long ago belonged to them.  No Roman could revoke that gift not even a successor to Tiberius.  She had tried to console her daughter and prepare her for having to leave her father’s house, but in the end, it was her daughter who consoled her.  The lady had instructed her servant to serve dinner later than usually and had told her both she and her daughter would assist her in preparing their meal.  Anxiously she awaited the centurion.  She had met the twenty-seven -year-old Latinus once when her husband had still been one of the emperor’s favorite senators.  Latinus was a youth then and with his parents had attended a feast given by Emperor Augustus.  Surrounded by many of the feast’s young maiden throughout the feast, he had paid little attention to them or any of the dignitaries there.

Her hands began to tremble when she heard him shake the bell at the front door.  She walked slowly to the door.  Antonia, her daughter, stood silently at the wall farthest removed from the door into the front room of the east wing of the house.  Her eyes were fixed on the entrance through which she expected the man to come who would shortly drive her from the house where she was born.  She would not complain and whimper, she had told herself.  But I will not say a word to him and give him my coldest shoulder no matter how pleasant he may appear in giving us notice, she thought.

When the door fully opened Cornelia was surprised to see a smiling Marcus stand there.  A pace behind him she saw the centurion looking at her pleasantly.  Confused she heard Marcus say as if in a dream, Lady Cornelia may I introduce the Centurion Latinus Berinas to you.  You had applauded his conquest in Germania.  It is a pleasure to have him visit us.

I offer you my sincere congratulations, Centurion, and welcome you home to Rome.  I can assure you my husband, unfortunate as he is, had applauded your conquest.  But please come in.  This is after all your villa now.  We invite you to dine with us shortly on fresh biscuits, figs grapes, flounder, peas, beats and mulsum.  We will also drink a wonderful honeyed wine our servant Gisela has made.

Latinus entered, and Marcus soon excused himself saying he would wait at his house for him until he wished to inspect the rest of the estate.  Before he left, he smiled at the lady.  She tried to interpret his reassuring smile.  It made her rest a little easier.  Once he had left Cornelia turned to Latinus and introduced Antonia to him.  She had not moved from the place where she had stood.  Her eyes had scrutinized him since he had entered.  She had to admit that the man, tall and powerfully build, was also very handsome.  She saw no hint of arrogance in him, as she had imagined she would do, but a quiet confidence she admired.  The longer she looked at him the faster her heart began to beat and her resolve to give him her cold shoulder diminished somewhat.  She gave him her hand when he extended his to her but tried not to smile at him, although her eyes did shine with approval.  Trying to hide her admiration from him she turned to speak to her mother about a matter they had settled hours earlier.

Latinus at first had not seen her standing in the corner of the room, but when he did notice her, he wondered how he could have missed her.  For her beauty seemed to grace everything around her.  He felt a pleasant warmth sweep over him when he took her hand and said, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Antonia.  He saw her eyes sparkle at him for a moment and a faint smile grace her lip, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.  It reminded him that the two women must be wondering what should become of them now that he had become the master of their home.

He turned to Cornelia.  When Antonia began to walk to the kitchen he said, I am pleased to accept your offer to dine with you.  It will allow me to tell you of my plans for this estate and of my wish for you and your family to remain here.  His words had an instant effect on the lady.  He saw her relax and begin to smile while a tear or two trickled from her eyes.

I thank you with all my heart, Latinus Berinas, she said.  You cannot imagine how happy Antonia will be to hear this good news.  She asked him to be seated on one of the couches in the room and said she would go and assist Antonia and her servant in preparing the meal but brought him a glass of wine before she left.

Latinus inspected the room where he sat.  He was pleased with what he saw.  The room and what he had seen of the house were well kept.  Glancing out of the window he admired the view.  Soon his thoughts turned to the young woman he had met only moments earlier.  Unconscious of the smile that had formed on his lips he wondered why she was not married, and if there was a young man to whom she had given her affection.  He had spent his last six years leading men in conquest many miles north of Rome in countries that had been subdued by Roman legions years earlier and in some that had never surrendered.  It had given him little time to get to know the young ladies of Rome, but he realized it would please him to spend time with this young lady and learn to know Antonia better.

In the kitchen Cornelia wasted no time to whisper the good news to her daughter.  He wishes for us to remain in our home.  I am delighted.  We shall not be forced to seek refuge with my parents.  Gaius, my older brother, will be lord there one year soon.  We will not wish to be beholden to him.  Are you not pleased, Antonia?  She embraced her daughter and continued speaking.  He means to tell me of the plans he has for the estate.  It allows me to believe all will be well for us.  Are you not pleased?

Antonia nodded slowly saying, I am pleased, Mother, but he may impose conditions for us that maybe unpleasant to consider, if we wish to remain here.  He may ask us to make one of the cottages our new abode.  While we will be comfortable enough there, we shall not be able to entertain any of our friends or have accommodation for family members who may wish to visit us.  We can live without a servant, but what would become of our faithful Gisela?

For a moment Cornelia thought about what her daughter had said.  Let us wait until he has shared his plans for the estate, she finally replied.  He appears to me to be a very generous and kind man.

During the meal the two women spoke mainly of the features of the mansion and pointed out what cottages and other buildings belonged to the estate.  While the unknown aspect of their future at their estate caused them to be anxious for during the meal, Latinus friendly demeanor gave them a glimmer of hope that all may be well.  He had said little asking only about the area of the house which contained their favorite memories.  Unknown to them he had observed with interest that both ladies had invited their servant to sit with them at the meal.  They once had many servants, but with the arraignment of the senator had agreed with the manager, Marcus Magnus, that it was wise to reduce the number of their personal staff from four to one, and the rest of the estate’s servants to three.  They had pleaded with Marcus to find good employment for the servants they had to let go.

Once they had finished the meal and had sipped their honeyed wine Latinus indicated he would shortly ask Marcus to show him all areas of the estate and then travel on to extended family members’ homes who lived in the area.  Before I leave and bid you farewell this day allow me to inform you what my plans are for this fine mansion and estate.  He told them he had asked Marcus Magnus to continue to oversee the estate as manager.  The ladies smiled happily hearing this.  He continued to speak of what changes he might make to the property in due time before he finally addressed their concerns.

"As for you, my lady, and your daughter, it will please me if you will agree to remain in the position as head of this house until your husband is released from his confinement.  I shall be away a good deal of the time but will come often while I am in Rome.  When I must go abroad, I may only reside here two