The total may not really have been quite so large. […] He had business interests in Africa (Ad fam. 12, 29) and probably large estates there the later saltus Lamianus? […] 3 A large part of Italy must have been outside the control of the Roman government in the years 88–83 B.C. […] It would be folly to leave a large treasure behind him, a temptation to his enemies. […] With the passing of time, he might indeed have silenced his conscience and acquiesced in a large measure of authoritative government at Rome.