mnasium
when they were again laughing saucily enough, and there was no lack of
biting and innocent jests.

"The fat carpenter, Memnon--who furnished the wood-work for your
palace--exclaimed close beside me that formerly a dolphin had saved
Arius from the pirates; now Arius was saving marine Alexandria from the
robbers. So the sport went on. Philostratus, Barine's first husband,
offered the best butt for jests. The agitator had good reason to fear
the worst; and now, clad in black mourning robes, ran after Arius, whom
but a few months ago he persecuted with the most vindictive hatred,
continually repeating this shallow bit of verse:

"'If he is a wise man, let the wise aid the wise.'

"Reaching home was not easy. The street was swarming with Roman
soldiers. They fared well enough; for in the joy of their hearts many
a prosperous citizen who saw his property saved invited individual
warriors, or even a whole maniple, to the taverns or cook-shops, and
the stock of wine in Alexandrian cellars will be considerably diminished
to-night.

"Many, as I have already said, had been quartered in the houses, with
orders to spare the property of the citizens; and it was in this way
that the misfortune with which I commenced my narrative befell the
grandmother. She died before my departure.

"All the gates of the city will now stand open to you, and the niece
of Arius and her husband will be received with ovations. I don't grudge
Barine the good fortune; for the way in which your noble wife, who
had cast her spell over me too, flung aside what is always dear to the
admired city beauty and found on the loneliest of islands a new world in
love, is worthy of all admiration and praise. For yourself, I dread new
happiness and honours; if they are added to those which Fate bestowed
upon you in such a wife and your son Pyrrhus, the gods would not be
themselves if they did not pursue you with their envy. I have less
reason to fear them."

"Ungrateful fellow!" interrupted his friend. "There will be numerous
mortals to grudge you Helena. As for me, I have already felt many a
slight foreboding; but we have already paid by no means a small tribute
to the divine ones. The lamp is still burning in the sitting-room.
Inform the sisters of their grandmother's death, and tell them the
pleasant tidings you have brought us, but reserve until the morning
a description of the terrible scenes you witnessed. We will not spoil
their sleep. Mark my