Lumbered with working alongside reptilian Chief Spy Anacrites, Falco has hit upon the perfect plan - offering his services to Vespasian and Titus in conducting the 'great Census' of AD 73 as a tax collector with draconian powers If he does well, his fee will finally alow him to join the middle ranks and wed long-suffering companion Helena Justina Meanwhile, Falco is needed to trace a relative who has eloped, and has a crazy plan for finding an extinct herb Distracted by the apparent murder of a star man-eating lion, Falco uncovers a bitter rivalry between the gladiators' trainers