For a moment, Gordianus hallucinates that he sees Hieronymus's ghost in front of him, telling him he has arrived at the root of the plot against Caesar.

King Numa gave the Roman people the calendar they are using now, and Gnaeus Calpurnius considers Caesar's replacement of it an unforgivable sacrilege.

When Gordianus reports to Calpurnia, he notices that her anxiety and paranoia have not been assuaged by his success at uncovering the plot; if anything, she seems even more convinced that Caesar will be dead before long.

By contrast, Gnaeus Calpurnius's motive - resentment over the replacement of the ancient Roman calendar - seems to Gordianus a lunatic and nonsensical reason to commit murder.

Yet, historically speaking, the Julian Calendar is arguably Caesar's widest and most-lasting accomplishment, far more significant than his military or political campaigns.