Lucius Caesar rises at dawn as usual and receives the first of the day’s reports and petitions during his quick breakfast. Athens is not like Rome, where a man’s friends and dependents fill his courtyard to ask favours, offer assistance, or simply greet him, yet there is always some business to attend to.

As he is about to read a couple of letters he has saved for last (from his friend Agrippa and from the quaestor of Transalpine Gaul), he hears a child’s laughter outside. He recognises the consul’s daughter – it must mean she and her mother are up and ready to go.

"Good morning, Caesar!" says Porcia, who has a bunch of flowers in her left hand, and "Good morning, Caesar!" says little Cornelia.

"Good morning, ladies, shall we go? Have you had something to eat?"

They ride in his litter, which is carried by strong Nubians, sturdy, flexible and fast, the best litter bearers in the world. Beside them walk three of the security guards detailed to protect the consul’s wife and daughter as well as Caesar’s faithful servant Hermodius.
They arrive at the Callias mansion in the middle of the fourth hour, while it is still not too hot. The servants there all know Caesar’s litter, and as the three visitors step down someone has already run inside to tell the masters they are there.

Kallistos meets them in the first courtyard, and makes a little theatrical pout at Caesar.

"Hello hello, come in. I know you haven’t come to see me today, you ingrate! But I forgive you since you’ve brought Porcia, and since I love my cousin Rina to distraction!"

Happily chatting she takes them to the large back garden where Valeria Flacca is sitting by the fishpond. Red headed adults and children appear at their side from different rooms, and walk with them or disappear again after a quick greeting. Caesar, whose family was never that large, grins.

"Look who is here, Rina!", it is not Kallistos who says this; she is also gone by then, after telling them they must absolutely come back in the evening for dinner.

"Salve, Valeria, have you had a good journey?", asks Caesar, his eyes smiling.
She is already on her feet, and she never looked as pretty, as healthy or as happy.
"Caesar! How good to see you! By Castor, I can’t believe this, you’ve brought my dearest friend with you!"
With this, she falls into Porcia’s arms.