"Now go back, begin your tale at the beginning. Tell me of your getting
into trouble at the first, of how you escaped in the first place. I have
often wondered how you managed it."
"Give me a respite," I demurred, "my voice is tired. It is your turn to
talk. Tell me how you learned about Ducconius Furfur and about Commodus
masquerading as Palus and about Marcia."
"Why," he said, "I had friends in one or more towns when I first took to
the woods. They gave me tips that helped me to make fine hauls on the
highways. As I prospered I made more friends; they helped me and my
growing success gained more, till I had friends in every town in Italy and
in Rome itself and an organized service of road-messengers. Why, Imperial
couriers often carried letters and packets, destined for me, from one town
to another, or even carried onward letters from me to distant friends or
parcels of my booty.
"In Rome itself I had many agents and chiefly my sister, Galvia
Crispinilla, a professional procuress and poisoner, who knew the worst
secrets of the lives of all Rome's wealthy and noble debauchees, and our
brother, Marcus Galvius Crispinillus, a professional informer and a valued
member of the Imperial Secret Service.
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