The man tapped the hammer gently on something small and blue.
The children heard something breaking.
"Is he Master Antonius?" asked Vinnie.
"Oh no, this man is a mosaic artist,"
said Varius, pointing to the floor.
It was a mosaic of animals and fish.
They examined the mosaic closer.
Little pieces of pottery were stuck together to create a picture.
"That's amazing!" cried Mandy.
A servant finally came and led them to a courtyard in the center of the house.
"This is different from Melus' house," remarked Mandy.
A man appeared.
He wore a large ring.
"Varius!" said the man.
"What's the matter? Be quick, boy.
I must get to the games soon."
"Master Antonius, Aquila is in danger," warned Varius.
"Today's race will not be a fair one."
He told Antonius what Mandy had overheard in the bathhouse.
"Poisoning the horses?" said Master Antonius.
"Horrible! You are sure of this?"
"Brutus wants to win very badly," said Varius.
"He should be watched carefully."
"I'll have extra guards put near the stable," Master Antonius said.
"Thank you!" cried Varius, as he and the children left.
"Now what do we do, Varius?" asked Mandy.
"We'll go to the Circus Maximus.
The race will begin soon.
We have done all that we can," Varius said.
They walked slowly down the road.
A large crowd was walking ahead of them.
"Are they all going to the race?" asked Vinnie.
"Oh yes, people love the chariot races.
Everyone comes to watch and bet on them," said Varius.
They followed the crowd into a large arena.
"Whoa!" Vinnie and Mandy cried together.
The Circus Maximus was a huge arena with many seats.
In the middle of the track was a long stage.
The stage had a huge tower in the middle.
At both ends of the stage were posts.
Metal objects were on a thick bar.
"Vinnie! The photo!" Mandy shouted.
"The old man was here!"
Vinnie took out the photo.
It was glowing blue.
"You're right!" he cried. "But what are they?"
He pointed to the objects on the bar.
"There are seven of them . . . " Mandy counted.
"I think they are dolphins!
But what are they for, Varius?"
"One dolphin is turned up every time the racers go around the track," said Varius.
"Each time around the track is a lap.
The dolphins let the racers know how many laps they have to go."
Just then a tall man walked over to them.
He looked down at Vinnie and Mandy.
"I am Aquila. Are you the children who saved my life?"