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ImperiumHe had already heard about the birth of CiceroБЂ™s son and pumped his advocateБЂ™s hand in warm congratulation, and then produced a beautiful calfskin box, which he insisted Cicero open. Inside was a babyБЂ™s silver amulet which Catilina had acquired in Utica. БЂњIt is merely a local trinket to ward off ill health and evil spirits,БЂ«he explained. БЂњPlease give it to your lad with my blessing.БЂ«БЂњWell,БЂ«replied Cicero, БЂњthis is handsome of you, Catilina.БЂ«And it was indeed exquisitely engraved, certainly no mere trinket: when Cicero held it to the light I saw all manner of exotic wild animals chasing one another, linked by a motif of curling serpents. For one last moment he toyed with it and weighed it in his palm, but then he replaced it in its box and handed it back to Catilina. БЂњI am afraid I cannot accept it.БЂ«БЂњWhy?БЂ«asked Catilina, with a puzzled smile. БЂњBecause you are my advocate, and advocates cannot be paid? Such integrity! But this is only a trifle for a baby!БЂ«БЂњActually,БЂ«said Cicero, drawing in his breath, БЂњI have come to tell you I am not going to be your advocate.БЂ«I was in the act of unpacking all the legal documents onto a small table which stood between the two men ...» | Код для вставки книги в блог HTML
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