riated, raised themselves in their couches to look at the
little baskets of fruit, the plates covered with pastry toasted over the
fire in the Cappadocian style; buns made of sesame flour, filled with
honey, and browned in the oven; and cakes of cheese stuffed with stewed
fruits.

Small amphorae containing the choicest wines, brought from the uttermost
ends of the world by Sonnica's ships, were uncorked. Wine from Byblus in
Phoenicia saturated the atmosphere with a fragrance as penetrating as
bottles of perfume; that from Lesbos which on being poured gave forth a
ravishing odor of roses, and, in addition to these, cups were filled
with cordials from Erythrea and Heraclea, strong and spiritous, and
those from Rhodes and Chios, prudently mixed with sea-water to aid the
digestion.

Some slaves, to excite again the appetite of the guests, and to make
them drink, offered plates of locusts cured in brine; radishes with
vinegar and mustard, toasted garbanzos, and olives, prized for their
size and flavor, swimming in a piquant sauce.

Actaeon could eat nothing, diverted by Sonnica, who, leaving her
_epiclintron_, pressed against him, rubbing her cheek upon the
Athenian's with mingling breath. Thus they remained in silence, each
watching the image reflected from the pupils of the other.

"Let me kiss you on the eyes," murmured Sonnica, "they are the windows
of the soul, and I imagine that through them my caress will penetrate to
the depths of your being."

The arrogant Alorcus, grave as all Celtiberians when intoxicated, spoke
of the coming festival as he gazed into his empty cup. He had five
horses in the city, the finest his tribe could furnish, and if the
magistrates would allow him to take part in the rejoicings, despite his
being a foreigner, the Saguntines would have a chance to admire the
strength and swiftness of his beautiful coursers. The crown should fall
to him, unless some unexpected event summoned him from the city.

Lachares and his elegant friends proposed to contest for the prize in
singing, and their effeminate hands, slender and beringed, moved
nervously over the table as if already thrumming the lyre, while their
painted lips sang Homeric verses in subdued tones. Euphobias, lying on
his back on his couch, gazed aloft with dreamy eyes, with no other
earthly desire than to reach forth his glass and call for wine; but
Alcon and the Greek merchants became impatient at the slowness of the
banquet.

"The d