rchitect. No one who heard the deep man's-voice ring through the
court from the doorway guessed to whom it belonged.

The Emperor had been delayed by adverse winds and had not run into the
harbor till a little before midnight.

Titianus, who was watching for him, he greeted as an old friend
with heartfelt warmth, and with him and Antinous he stepped into
the prefect's chariot, while Phlegon the secretary, Hermogenes his
physician, and Mastor with the luggage, among which were their campbeds,
were to follow in another vehicle. The harbor watchmen hastened to array
themselves indignantly to oppose the chariot, as it rolled noisily along
the street, and the huge dog that destroyed the peace of the night with
its baying; but as soon as they recognized Titianus they respectfully
made way. The gate-keeper and his wife, obedient to the prefect's
warning, had remained up, and as soon as the singer heard the
chariot approaching which bore the Emperor, he hastened to open the
palace-gates. The broken-up pavement and the swarms of men engaged in
repairing it, obliged Titianus and his companions to quit the chariot
here and to pass close to the little gate-house. Hadrian, whose
observation nothing ever escaped which came in his way and seemed
worth noticing, stood still before Euphorion's door and looked into the
comfortable little room, with its decoration of flowers and birds and
the statue of Apollo; while dame Doris in her newest garments, stood on
the threshold to watch for the prefect. And Titianus greeted her warmly,
for he was wont whenever he came to Lochias to exchange a few merry
or wise words with her. The little dogs had already crept into their
basket, but as soon as they caught sight of a strange dog they rushed
past their mistress into the open air, and dame Doris found herself
obliged, while she returned the kindly greeting of her patron, to shout
at Euphrosyne, Thalia and Aglaia more than once by their pretty names.

"Splendid, splendid!" cried Hadrian, pointing into the little house.
"An idyl, a perfect idyl. Who would have expected to find such a smiling
nook of peace in the most restless and busy town in the empire."

"I and Pontius were equally surprised at this little nest, and we
therefore left it untouched," said the prefect.

"Intelligent people understand each other, and I owe you thanks for
preserving this little home," answered the Emperor. "What an omen, what
a favorable, in every way favorable aug