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Rome
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Thirteen young slaves, tired, skinny from the lack of proper food and water but still rather handsome, entered Rome through the Appian Gate. Walking in chains through the Forum Romanum, the slaves took the road upwards towards the Mons Palatinus where was their first stop. After some search Sextus, Lucius Brutus's tribune from Asia, found the house he was looking for. As he approached the doors he saw a man, a rather old man as he noticed - close to his sixties - exiting the house in a hurry. No matter. Without further adieu, Sextus banged the door trice, shortly to be polite yet loudly as it was fitting to a military man.

Having been brought in the house and told to wait in the vestibulum by a servant, Sextus waited in attention while he examined the eight slaves; they looked alright, presentable even although a woman of high status might not understand why they were so damned thin - the life a slave endured on his trip to his new master was unknown to the women of the nobility. In any case, the slaves looked alright to be presented in Brutus's name, Sextus thought. Hearing the footsteps approaching from the Atrium, Sextus fixed his position and also nodded to the slaves to also stand attention, manly like; he then searched inside his military bag for the letter of the Quaestor, to have it ready when he was supposed to deliver it to the Lady.

"This is him?" Lady Clodia Marca asked the servant who had opened the doors earlier.
"Yes, Domina." the servant replied.
"Madam," Sextus begun. "Allow me to introduce myself and give you the reason of my visit. I'm Sextus Tranquilus, tribune to Lucius Junius Brutus, the Quaestor of Asia. In his name, I have come to offer you these servants." Sextus extended his right hand to point out towards the slaves who in a gesture of respect to the seasoned lady lowered their heads.
"I don't understand." Lady Claudia said, "I don't even know this Lucius Junius; why is he giving me a gift?".
"My lady," the tribune said "I cannot possibly express the Quaestor's reasons better than he would." and with these words, Sextus gave Lady Clodia the letter.

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To: Lady Clodia Marca
From: Lucius Junius Brutus

My Lady,

Allow me to express with this gift my sincerest apologies. Even though we have not met, nor with you personally nor I with your son, before now due to my term in the rebelling province of Asia, it was never my intention to snob a woman as worthy as yourself. Please, accept this humble gift - the only thing I earned from my term as Quaestor and the only thing a general abroad can find worthy giving to a woman of your status and dignity - as a sign of my amity to you and of my desire to make your acquaintance.

Alas, with my term not yet over, I cannot but write to you in my quest to gain information of your well-being and of your son's accomplishments. You see, my lady, in this desolate land there are not many news that can find their way to my ears and I admit that I know almost nothing of what has transpired this last year. What I do know is that due to my advisor's initiative, I have been elected Plebeian Aedile so I will have more time this coming year to spend, staying in the City.

But I must be tiring you; my apologies. I believe that it would be best to meet in Rome when I return from Asia, not too long from now. I would be pleased to entertain both you and your son, Marcus, of whom I've heard so much in regard to his character but so little in regard to his deeds in Africa except for that Senatum Consultum he unleashed in the Senate during the month April. Judging from his courageous behaviour then, I can only assume that he is a man of honour and that his mother can be nothing but a virtuous mother indeed!

Hoping that you will accept my gift and acknowledge my friendship to you,

signed Lucius Junius Brutus
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All the time Lady Clodia was reading the letter, Sextus Tranquilus couldn't take his eyes from the gentile woman. Ye Gods! She is indeed as beautiful as they say!, the military tribune thought to himself only to wake from his thinking to see the Lady having finished the letter and holding it out to him. Blushing, the tribune made a short bow and took back the letter, putting it back in his military bag.
"My Lady," he said "Lucius Junius wanted me to inform you that the servants have been picked in regard to their nice presentation and their education. He said that you may find them pleasantly witty, although - having joined the rebellion - caution should be advised not to let outbursts of insolence unpunished. Now, with your permission, I shall leave you."

Exiting the House of Lady Clodia Marca, Sextus Tranquilus was able to breath properly once more. Roman ladies were indeed head and shoulder above any woman he had seen in his life - although judging that due to his short of life span and his military experience that allowed to meet only paid companion - their inferiority to a Clodia Marca ought to be so. However, he admitted, even in her middle forties - or could she be older? - Clodia Marca had something that made her extremely amiable.

"Come on, you wretches! Let's find this House of Quintus Vitulus know" Sextus said and took off to find that villa on the Palatine...