"It collapsed two days before the Ides. Bad foundation, they say. The whole thing was held up with nothing but wicker and plaster. There was fire too - from the popina. Thank the gods, the spartoli are just up the street! They put that out right quick.

"You're not here to make trouble are you? You look like a rent collector, maybe. No? Well, just so you know, we ran the owner's freedman right out of the vicus. He'll probably be back with some hired muscle once his knees stop shaking.

"Just looking up an old friend, you say? Most of the folk that lived there had to move in with relations. Except that widow and her two little ones. Damnable pity that was. Old Gratianus and his wife died too.