III Id. Mart., prima vigilia Rome, the residence of the Pontifex Maximus, 13 March, first guard shift, seven p.m.CAESAR WAS getting ready to meet with his officers. He was wearing a simple knee-length fatigue tunic, like the one he used during his military campaigns, cinched at the waist by a leather belt with an iron buckle. A servant was just lacing up his boots. He gave him a quick look to make sure his clothing was in order, then asked, ‘Anything else, master?’‘See if you can do something to my hair,’ replied Caesar, looking at himself in the mirror.The servant combed it slightly forward to partially hide the early stages of baldness.There was a knock at the door and Silius Salvidienus appeared.‘Are they here?’ asked Caesar.‘Yes, they’re all downstairs. Calpurnia is offering them drinks.Aemilius Lepidus, Decimus Brutus, Mark Antony, Caius Trebonius and the others. They appear to be in a jolly mood.’‘Have places been assigned at the table?’‘As you’ve requested.
