of women has
something of the actress in her nature; and her histrionic talent was
stimulated by her filial affection. Basil was for a moment fairly carried
away by the consummate fact of her performance and the genuine feeling to
her appeal; but he was himself again by the time he had finished perusing
his late minister's long-winded and mendacious memorial.

"What manner of woman was thy mother?" he inquired kindly

Euprepia was eloquent in praise of her deceased parent's perfections of
mind and person.

"Then I can believe thee Photinius's daughter, which I might otherwise have
doubted," returned Basil. "As concerns him, I can only say, if he feels
himself innocent, let him come out of sanctuary, and stand his trial. But I
will give thee a place at Court."

This was about all that Photinius hoped to obtain, and he joyfully
consented to his daughter's entering the Imperial court, exulting at
having got in the thin end of the wedge. She was attached to the person of
the Emperor's sister-in-law, the "Slayer of the Bulgarians" himself being a
most determined bachelor.

Time wore on. Euprepia's opportunities of visiting her father were less
frequent than formerly. At last she came, looking thoroughly miserable,
distracted, and forlorn.

"What ails thee, child?" he inquired anxiously.

"Oh, father, in what a frightful position do I find myself!"

"Speak," he said, "and rely on my counsel."

"When I entered the Court," she proceeded, "I found at first but one human
creature I could love or trust, and he--let me so call him--seemed to
make up for the deficiencies of all the rest. It was the cupbearer
Helladius."

"I hope he is still thy friend," interrupted Photinius. "The good graces of
an Imperial cupbearer are always important, and I would have bought those
of Helladius with a myriad of bezants."

"They were not to be thus obtained, father," said she. "The purest
disinterestedness, the noblest integrity, the most unselfish devotion, were
the distinction of my friend. And such beauty! I cannot, I must not conceal
that my heart was soon entirely his. But--most strange it seemed to me
then--it was long impossible for me to tell whether Helladius loved me or
loved me not. The most perfect sympathy existed between us: we seemed one
heart and one soul: and yet, and yet, Helladius never gave the slightest
indication of the sentiments which a young man might be supposed to
entertain for a young girl. Vainly did I t