When Mark Antony entered the atrium, I already knew that he would bring me something unusual. The smile on his face, the lightness of his gait - he was clearly anticipating my reaction. Mark was rarely surprised himself, but he loved to surprise others, especially me.

"Your August," he began with a slight bow, "I have been brought a curiosity from distant lands. I considered it my duty to present it to you."

I raised my glass of wine, lazily looking at the marble columns and frescoes before deigning to deign to pay him attention.

"A curiosity?" I asked with slight condescension.

"A slave," he explained, smiling even wider. "From across the sea. Where the sun hides in the water and where people live who speak a language that none of your senators know."

I put down my glass, making a sign for her to be brought. However, not so much out of curiosity as for the sake of amusement. Novelty is the great power that keeps a weary mind from boredom.