Once again Jack Pulman makes a whole scene out of one sentence in Graves' book. Claudius places Martina the poisoner in a "safe" house. She isn't kept very safe as we find out. Our resident scary guy Sejanus tracks her down and kills her. Pulman, who can't let her go so quickly, spins this confection of scene and a later appearance where a not-so-dead Martina has a conversation with Livia.

This merchant situation is mostly made up by Graves, but the semitic angle is all Pulman. Tacitus does shed a dim light on Martina. According to him, she was sent off to Rome under armed escort as a witness for the prosecution. Martina died suddenly at Brundisium without signs of suicide. This seems pretty convenient for Piso's defense. Was there foul play afoot? It is likely, but as far as a witness protection program goes, there is no ancient evidence.