'Why,' Ventriculus teased me, 'would any loving brother give his sister to this Mico?'

The thought of my relations was upsetting me so badly that I launched into what I wanted Ventriculus to do.

'Isn't everyone?' murmured Ventriculus, and we all grinned again.

'Any silver still in these?' Ventriculus asked, and he looked disappointed when I shook my head.

Now our friend Ventriculus in Pompeii had informed me he would use up most of my lead on the orders we had already obtained.