Chapter 38: The Trial of Verres (2)
Chapter 38: The Trial of Verres (2)
From Ostia to Sicily
The journey took longer than Marcus expected.
The initial romance of sailing quickly wore off, replaced by boredom and irritation. The two-decked Liburnian galley rocked violently, despite the relatively mild waves. Marcus had to lie down in a corner to soothe the effects of seasickness.
As soon as they reached the port, he dashed off the ship without looking back. Strangely, his dizziness ceased the moment he touched land.
“Ah… damn, I feel alive again.”
“I didn’t realize you were so prone to seasickness, sir,” Spartacus said.
“It was my first time on a ship. I’ll be more used to it next time.”
“I hope so.”
Spartacus gave him a wry smile and patted his back gently.
Meanwhile, Cicero contacted his prearranged client, Hicetas, one of Sicily’s most influential figures. Cicero had known him since serving as a quaestor in Sicily. Hicetas was a diligent and upright man who held Cicero in high regard.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for coming here. Please let me know if you need anything, senator.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to have you here. I have some carriages and staff waiting for me, so could you help me with contacting the witnesses?”
“Yes, but we need to discuss the prosecution fee. I understand it’s customary to pay high fees with artworks for such cases.”
“That’s right.”
Roman lawyers traditionally avoided direct fees, accepting gifts instead due to a principle established 200 years prior. The principle held that lawyers should not chase money, lest it distort justice. However, skilled lawyers often received fees disguised as gifts, accumulating wealth without drawing the censors' attention. Artworks were preferred as payment because they were easily converted to cash and retained their value over time.
Hicetas scratched his head with a troubled expression. “I know we should compensate you, but we don’t have many artworks left. They all went into Verres’ pockets…”
“He really took them greedily, didn’t he? I guess all those exquisite artworks in his mansion were stolen during his governorship,” Cicero remarked, recalling Verres’ luxurious home and clicking his tongue in disapproval.
“Senator, given the situation, I’ll try to find something else of value instead of artworks. If that fails, I’ll find a way to pay you in cash without getting caught by the censors…”
“No, no need for that. I’ve already discussed with my companions how to handle the fee on the way here.”
Cicero glanced at Marcus, who was looking a bit better, and continued cheerfully, “As you know, I’m aiming for the position of aedile in the July elections. Since half of the aediles are plebeians, my election is almost certain. The issue is that I’m not in a position to spend money like other nobles once elected.”
The aediles were permanent praetors overseeing roads, buildings, public works, and more. They also managed festivals and public entertainment, often paying out of their own pockets to gain popularity for future elections to higher offices. However, Cicero lacked the wealth to support this.
Marcus reminded Cicero that food supply was also part of the aedile’s duties, which gave Cicero an idea on how to receive his fee.
“So I’ll take my fee in grain. Since I’m not receiving it directly, it’s more like a gift than a fee. If I lower the price of grain that I sell to Rome next year as an aedile, that should suffice.”
“That’s definitely possible. Is that really all you want?”
“Of course. You may not realize this living in Sicily, which is rich in grain, but Rome is very sensitive to wheat prices. No matter how many festivals I hold, it’s meaningless if I can’t control the grain price.”
“But even if we didn’t pay you as a fee, we would have lowered the supply price of grain as a token of gratitude.”
“Then just lower it a bit more than originally planned.”
Hicetas immediately drafted a contract. Lowering the wheat price would not be a loss if compensation from Verres was forthcoming. The amount and artworks plundered by Verres were immense.
“Where will you start the investigation? I think Panormus or Lilybaeum would be suitable.”
“I’m going to Syracuse and Messana first,” Cicero replied.
Hicetas looked puzzled. “Really? Those cities are allied with Verres. It would be hard to find evidence of plunder there.”
“But it will be easy to find traces of collusion. Even in a city allied with Verres, not everyone benefits equally. Some will have grievances and will talk if rewarded.”
“Oh… that makes sense.”
“And don’t forget that Verres’ brother-in-law, Lucius, is the current governor of Sicily. He must have anticipated our arrival and prepared. We need to move in a way that they don’t expect.”
Sicily was vast. Lucius couldn’t control every region instantly. Marcus suggested focusing on areas with more support for Cicero. By making a noticeable move in Lilybaeum, Lucius’ attention would be diverted, giving Marcus and Cicero more freedom.
Marcus boarded a carriage with Cicero and headed to Syracuse. He instructed the escorts to keep their distance to avoid drawing attention. Only Spartacus, disguised in shabby clothes and smeared with charcoal, accompanied them, looking like a noble’s son with a sturdy slave.
Cicero, sitting across from Marcus, spoke up. “I’m glad you came with me. I was worried that Verres’ resistance might be stronger.”
“He must be very wary of Pompey. I wish he had been more careless, but I suppose luck isn’t on our side. But your insights, like taking the fee in grain, are very helpful.”
“You would have thought of that eventually, Cicero.”
Indeed, a decrease in wheat prices would benefit both Cicero and Marcus. If they won the trial against Verres, Sicily’s cheap wheat supply would align with Marcus’ plans to buy a large amount of wheat. Cicero would gain popularity, and Marcus would profit immensely. It was a favorable outcome for both.
Marcus, however, showed no sign of this. He wasn’t hoarding wheat; that was Tadius’ domain. Marcus was helping Cicero out of a sense of justice for the republic’s future. Cicero, unaware of this, saw Marcus as a reliable ally in his quest for justice.
Upon arriving in Syracuse, Marcus went straight to Dion, a Greek administrator he had previously investigated. Dion was chosen because his wealth had increased the least among the administrators.
“Are you Dion, the administrator of Syracuse?”
Dion, wearing a pallium, a modified Greek garment, looked up with annoyance. “What do you want? I’m very busy.”
His attitude changed when Marcus handed him a silver coin.
“We are an investigation team from Rome. We have questions about the former governor and hope you can answer them. Of course, we will compensate you well.”
Dion’s eyes gleamed with greed at the sight of the silver purse. “Um… but I can’t decide on this alone.”
“No one will know what you said to us. We’ll keep the source of the evidence secret until the trial. And if you face any disadvantage from this trial, we’ll compensate you financially.”
“Oh… is that true?”
“We can draft a contract right here. Don’t you think your compensation has been too low compared to your efforts? You deserve a fair reward for your work.”
“Since we’re here, why not relax and have a drink tonight?” Marcus added, placing a few more silver coins in Dion’s hand.
Dion, trying to suppress his excitement, coughed. “Ahem! Ahem, well… thank you. You must come from a wealthy family.”
“Well, I have enough not to envy anyone.”
“I see. If you make a contract guaranteeing compensation, I might be able to talk. To be honest, I also think the former governor’s tyranny was severe. But as a mere administrator, I have to follow orders from above.”
Cicero’s eyebrows twitched at Dion’s excuses, but Marcus signaled him to let it be. They aimed to implicate Verres, not waste energy on petty administrators.
“It’s understandable that anyone would have to follow the governor’s orders. But it seems he didn’t compensate you properly. Don’t you think that’s unfair?”
“That’s exactly my point. We did the work, but the rewards went to the big shots. Hieron, that scoundrel, bought land with his rewards for tampering with the books, while I received only a few silver coins.”
“That’s outrageous. I am different from Verres. If you give me the evidence you have, I’ll provide a reward that matches its value.”
After some hesitation, Dion asked them to wait and disappeared. Cicero looked at Marcus with suspicion.
“Do you think he’ll fall for it?”
“Of course. I didn’t just bribe him with money; I tapped into his accumulated resentment. How dirty would he feel if he got involved in a dirty business without proper compensation?”
The downfall of powerful people often begins with internal accusations, particularly when their internal accusers are poorly treated. Marcus expected the same pattern with Verres.
Dion soon returned with documents and wax tablets containing various pieces of evidence.
“This is what I have from my work. But let’s write a contract first. It will help build trust.”
“Of course.”
Marcus pushed the evidence aside and took out a contract. “Stamp your seal here. This contract guarantees compensation for any damage you might suffer from this testimony.”
“Oh, thank you. You know how to handle things properly. Let me review it…”
Dion examined the contract with a pleased expression. The contract stipulated that Marcus Licinius Crassus would compensate Dion for any damages suffered due to his testimony.
“Marcus Licinius Crassus II?”
“Yes, I am Marcus Licinius Crassus II.”
“Crassus, the Roman consul…”
“Yes, his son.”
Dion, realizing who he was dealing with, quickly knelt and bowed his head. Even as an administrator in Sicily, he was aware of Crassus’s immense prestige.
“I’m sorry for my rudeness… And who is the person with you?”
“This is Cicero, the lawyer prosecuting Verres. He is a senator and served as quaestor in Sicily before.”
Dion, now trembling, begged for mercy. “I-I only did what Verres ordered. Please, have mercy…”
“Don’t worry. We won’t arrest someone who provides valuable evidence.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
“Let’s continue our discussion about the evidence…”
While Marcus spoke with Dion, Cicero reviewed the evidence.
“One administrator provided this much evidence… It’s more than I expected. I’d believe it if he said he wanted to ruin Sicily with his plundering.”
The evidence showed that Verres’ reported accounts were falsified, with embezzlement of treasury funds and collusion with pirates.
The extent of Verres’ plundering amazed Cicero and Marcus. Dion provided more details than they had anticipated.
Dion also revealed that Governor Lucius had ordered surrounding cities to hide evidence. He offered to provide names of dissatisfied individuals and a letter of introduction.
Marcus appreciated the assistance, knowing it would help in keeping his identity concealed while gathering information.
Dion’s lengthy account detailed Lucius’s orders and sabotage plans, exposing the collusion between Verres and Syracuse.