Publius Manlius Torquatus sat in his garden, chatting with his wife Fabia..

Fabia: Not many people seem to be voting for you as Pontifex Maximus, Publius. What will you do if you don’t get in?

PMT: Oh, I’m not worried yet. Only a few patricians have voted so far – I never expected to get their backing. Just you wait until the Plebeians start to vote, then you’ll see.

Fabia: Hmmm…and what will you do if you are elected?

PMT: Consult those Sibylline Books for a start; see what they really said about my building a Temple to Neptune. I bet that old fool Caesar got it all wrong – three times round the City walls with a pack of animals in tow, I ask you, is that really likely? I think the Gods will be giving much more positive signals, as revealed by the Sibylline Books of course, whilst I’m Pontifex Maximus!