‘What are the chances rebellion will flare again among the tribes?’ Juvenalis did not regard it as a function of his appointment to give political briefings, so I let myself speculate: ‘It’s the old joke still. If a Greek, a Roman and a Celt are shipwrecked on a desert island, the Greek will start a philosophy school, the Roman will nail up a rota – and the Celt will start a fight.’ He glared at me suspiciously; even as a joke it was too metaphysical.