boat for escape close at
hand, and friendly shores in the distance.

The unfortunate Pollux also awoke towards morning with sighs many and
deep; for it seemed to him that last evening he had ruined his whole
future prospects. The workshop of his former master was henceforth closed
to him, and he no longer possessed even all the tools requisite for the
exercise of his art.

Only yesterday he had hoped with happy confidence to establish himself on
a footing of his own, to-day this seemed impossible, for the most
indispensable means were lacking to him. As he felt his little money-bag,
which he was wont to place under his pillow, he could not forbear smiling
in spite of all his troubles, for his fingers sank into the flaccid
leather, and found only two coins, one of which he knew alas! was of
copper, and the dried merry-thought bone of a fowl, which he had saved to
give to his little nieces.

Where was he to find the money he was accustomed to give his sister on
the first day of every month? Papias was on friendly terms with all the
sculptors of the city, and it was only to be expected that he would warn
them against him, and do his best to make it difficult to him to find a
new place as assistant. His old master had also been witness of Hadrian's
anger against him, and was quite the man to take every advantage of what
he had overheard. It is never a recommendation for any one that he is an
object of dislike to the powerful, and least of all does it help him with
those who look for the favor and gifts of the great men of the world.
When Hadrian should think proper to throw off his disguise, it might
easily occur to him to let Pollux feel the effects of his power. Would it
not be wise in him to quit Alexandria and seek work or daily bread in
some other Greek city?

But for Arsinoe's sake he could not turn his back on his native place. He
loved her with all the passion of his artist's soul, and his youthful
courage would certainly not have been so quickly and utterly crushed if
he could have deluded himself as to the fact that his hopes of possessing
her had been driven into the remote background by the events of the
preceding evening. How could he dare to drag her into his uncertain and
compromised position? And what reception could he hope for from her
father if he should now attempt to demand her for his wife. As these
thoughts overpowered his mind he suddenly felt as if his eyes were
smarting with sand that had blow