t, had broken the strong seal and had just finished reading
it, when the Empress asked her question.

Nothing of what went on around her escaped Sabina's little eyes, and
she had observed that while the governor was considering the document
addressed to him he had moved uneasily. It must contain something of
importance.

"An urgent letter," replied Titianus, "calls me home. I must take my
leave, and I hope ere long to be able to communicate to you something
agreeable."

"What does that letter contain?"

"Important news from the provinces," said Titianus.

"May I inquire what?"

"I grieve to say that I must answer in the negative. The Emperor
expressly desired that this matter should be kept secret. Its settlement
demands the promptest haste, and I am therefore unfortunately obliged to
quit you immediately."

Sabina returned the prefect's parting salutations with icy coldness
and immediately desired to be conducted to her private rooms to dress
herself for supper.

Balbilla escorted her, and Florus betook himself to the "Olympian
table," the famous eating-house kept by Lycortas, of whom he had been
told wonders by the epicures at Rome.

When Verus was alone with his wife he went up in a friendly manner and
said:

"May I drive you home again?"

Domitia Lucilla had thrown herself on a couch, and covered her face with
her hands, and she made no reply. "May I?" repeated the praetor. As his
wife persisted in her silence, he went nearer to her, laid his hand on
her slender fingers that concealed her face, and said:

"I believe you are angry with me!" She pushed away his hand, with a
slight movement, and said: "Leave me."

"Yes, unfortunately I must leave you. Business takes me into the city
and I will--"

"You will let the young Alexandrians, with whom you revelled through the
night, introduce you to new fair ones--I know it."

"There are in fact women here of incredible charm," replied Verus quite
coolly. "White, brown, copper-colored, black--and all delightful in
their way. I could never be tired of admiring them."

"And your wife?" asked Lucilla, facing him, sternly. "My wife? yes, my
fairest. Wife is a solemn title of honor and has nothing to do with the
joys of life. How could I mention your name in the same hour with those
of the poor children who help me to beguile an idle hour."

Domitia Lucilla was used to such phrases, and yet on this occasion they
gave her a pang. But she concealed it, and cro