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ODE TO A BANKER

A Novel of

Marcus Didius Falco

by

Lindsey Davis

To Simon King (another of my 'Dear Simon' notes . . )

On your retirement from Random House. With thanks for your friendship, patience, and loyal support for Falco - And in memory of the smoked eel.

Author's Disclaimers

I hereby assert strenuously that the scroll-shop of Aurelius Chrysippus in the Clivus Publicius bears no relation to my publishers - who are models of editorial judgement, prompt payment, fair dealing, strong marketing, and lunch-buying.

(NB: the dedication of this book is to a most excellent man, who was one of them. )

The views of M. Didius Falco on the characters and habits of authors are his views only; clearly, he has not met my delightful colleagues.

The Golden Horse is certainly not my bank.

Jurisdictions of the Vigiles Cohorts in Rome:

Coh I Regions VII VIII (Via Lata, Forum Romanum)

Coh II Regions III V (Isis and Serapis, Esquiline)

Coh III Regions IV VI (Temple of Peace, Alta Semita)

Coh IV Regions XII XIII (Piscina Publica, Aventine)

Coh V Regions I II (Porta Capena, Caelimontium)

Coh VI Regions X XI (Palatine, Circus Maximus)

Coh VII Regions IX XIV (Circus Flaminius, Transtiberina)

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

Old Stagers

M. Didius Falco/Dillius Braco/Ditrius Basto - a well-known Roman

Helena Justina -a heroine (a loyal reader)

Ma (Junilla Tacita) -a canny depositor

Pa (Gerninus) -a chipped old block

Maia Favonia (a sister) -a late-developing job-seeker

Junia (another sister) -a skilled staff manager

Rutilius Gallicus - a high profile spare time scribbler

Anacrites - a low lyer with variable interests;

A. Camillus Aelianus - an ill-equipped aristocratic trainee;

Gloccus and Cotta - invisible bathhouse contractors;

Numerous children, dogs, pregnancies and pups;

The Vigiles

Petronius Longus

Fusculus

Passus

Sergius

The World of the Arts

Aurelius Chrysippus -a patron of literature (a swine) a scroll-seller (a good critic) (a what?)

Euschemon - an old hand with attitude

Avienus - a historian with writer's block

Turius - a utopian with allergies (to work) the Shakespeare (Bacon?) of his day

Urbanus Trypho - a dramatist?

Anna, Trypho's wife - who may have a way with her

Pacuvius (Scrutator) - a bad-mouthing satirist (extinct species)

Constrictus Blitis - a love poet who needs to be dumpedfrom a writers' group (not writing at present)

From Commerce

Nothokleptes - a thieving bastard (a banker)

Aurelius Chrysippus (him again) - a secretive businessman

Lucrio - a personal banking executive (unsafe deposits)

Bos - a big man who explains bank charges

Diomedes - a very religious son with artistic hobbies

Lysa (first wife of Chrysippus) - a maker of men and their businesses (hard feelings)

Vibia (second wife of ditto) - a keen home-maker (soft furnishings)

Pisarchus - a shipping magnate who may be sunk

Philomelus - his son, a drudge with a dream

Stock Characters

Domitian - a Young Prince (a hater)

Aristagoras - an Old Man (a lover?)

An old woman - a Witness

Perella - a Dancer

ROME: MID JULY-12 AUGUST AD74

A book may be defined... as a written (or printed) message of considerable length, meant for public circulation and recorded on materials that are light yet durable enough to afford comparatively easy portability. '