Orata tells Gordianus that Licinius who always before had worked for Crassus, for some time had amassed considerable wealth and even wanted to buy the villa from Crassus. Gordianus witnesses a dispute between Crassus and Mummius who requests mercy for his favorite, Apollonius. In the library Crassus tells Gordianus about the start of the Spartacan revolt and mentions his pressing need for success against. Gordianus tells of the finding of Zeno's corpse and discovers that someone has washed the blood from the statuette. The next morning the funeral procession takes place.
Numerous guests arrive.
Crassus gives a eulogy in which he blames Spartacus for Licinius' death. Eco and Gordianus return to the villa to find someone to dive for the objects which Gordianus has seen submerged at the boathouse. Meto, of whom they had first thought, cannot swim, but brings them to Apollonius who is in the barn in which Crassus has imprisoned most of the slaves. Gordianus informs Crassus, who like Gordianus cannot rule out that Licinius was inolved in illegal business activities. In honor of the deceased a great banquet takes place at which the philosopher Dionysius suddenly dies of poisoning.