I still can't believe I've put the bastard away for good! Petro muttered' Petronius Longus captain of the Aventine watch & Falco's oldest friend has finally nailed one of Rome's top criminals Under Roman law citizens are not imprisoned but are allowed time to depart' into exile outside the Empire One dark & gloomy dawn Petro & Falco put the evil Balbinus aboard a ship But soon after an outbreak of robbery & murder suggests a new criminal ring has moved into Balbinus' territory Petro & Falco must descend into the underworld of Vespasian's Rome to investigate