Gaius Rutilius Rufus, commanding officer of Cato's troops in Rhodes receives information that Porcia is being held up in the city of Rhodes itself.
He gives orders that all efforts for more information should now concentrate on the town, especially in the affluent quarters near the acropolis. However, information is to be had without calling attention to the scouts, who should mix with the people and the slaves and try to find out who knows what cousin of what labourer who happens to be the daughter of the launderer of the Roman lady's clothes :-) That sort of thing.

He is also informed that two strong fleets, apparently belonging to Pompey the great and Mark Antony are in the main Rhodes harbour, and he even hears that their arrival may be connected to the lady Porcia's kidnapping.

He decides to embark his troops again and sail northwards until he finds a secluded beach not too far from the capital. From there he plans to advance carefully by land.