Giton had refused several times to enlighten Philandros about the plans for the evening...and he was finding it difficult to keep his friend quiet as the day unfolded. Now, in the wineshop, was his chance to befuddle the boy and thereby avoid the results of telling him his plans...for Giton surely knew that Philandros would want no part of the evening if he found out what was being arranged.

As he filled Philandros' cup a third time, he talked about inimportant things...theater, books--the heat of the summer so far--all to delay matters until Philandros forgot his questions about the night to come. From past experience, Giton knew that his friend had a low tolerance for drink, and counted on that now. So far, arrangements had gone a bit slow--he could not find the one man he needed to complete the night's festivities...but he had an idea where to find him now after talking with a mutual friend at the Odeion.

Thus it was, that he found himself assisting Philandros along the street toward the place where Lycon must be--Phil's Exotica! He knew that Philandros would not normally enter such a place, and that was why he had been plied with drink for the past hour. At the entrance to the brothel, Giton had a word with the doorman, and learned that indeed, Lycon was present--and told Giton where to find him once a suitable fee had been paid. The burly man looked askance at Philandros, who could barely stand, and shook his head. "Another of your pretty friends, Giton?"

Giton smiled, and nodded. "Yes--he needs a place to sleep it off for a few hours...I don't suppose there's a room?"

The gate keeper led the way down the hall and to a small doorless room. Giton set Philandros down on the hard bed, and put the boy's cloak under his head as a pillow. He stroked Philon's cheek and kissed it gently. "Rest a while, my dear...you must be ready for the party later."

Giton went back into the hall, where he heard voices in argument a few doors down. Was that Arrius? What could the man be doing here at this time of day?

The last thing Giton needed just now was to be seen by Arrius, so he slipped around the giant bouncer and headed upstairs for the room occupied by Lycon and whatever current toy he had purchased time with--and knowing him--it would be a choice morsel indeed!

"Here!" The large door man called. "What about your 'friend'?"

"I'll be back down for him in a few hours...see that he doesn't wander off until I get back!" The man watched as Giton went upstairs, then turned back to the entrance door, where he could watch the hall as well. So far as he knew, Giton knew no people of quality, yet this red-haired boy was dressed better than the usual trash who came into Phil's on average...had Giton finally found his meal ticket to a better life? If so, why had the greek brought him here? Yet, Giton had business with Lycon, who was known to be Pompeii's most infamous debaucher--it had to be that the boy was going to find work for the two of them at one of Lycon's parties....

The man found himself distracted by the arrival of another customer--yet another of those withered men from Rome seeking a last grasp at youth!