us inspected every portion
of the door-way with a keen eye and then, with the prefect, went into
the first court of the palace, in which, in the time of the Ptolemies,
the tents had stood for ambassadors, secretaries, and the officers in
waiting on the king. There they met with an unexpected hindrance, for
across the paved court-yard, where the grass grew in tufts, and tall
thistles were in bloom, a number of ropes were stretched aslant from
the little house in which dwelt the gate-keeper; and on these ropes were
hung newly-washed garments of every size and shape.

"A pretty residence for an Emperor," sighed Titianus, shrugging his
shoulders, but stopping the lictor, who had raised his fasces to cut the
ropes.

"It is not so bad as it looks," said the architect positively.
"Gate-keeper! hi, gate-keeper! Where is the lazy fellow hiding himself?"

While he called out and the lictor hurried forward into the interior
of the palace, Pontius went towards the gate-keeper's lodge, and having
made his way in a stooping attitude through the damp clothes, there
he stood still. Ever since he had come in at the gate annoyance and
vexation had been stamped on his countenance, but now his large mouth
spread into a smile, and he called to the prefect in an undertone:

"Titianus, just take the trouble to come here."

The elderly dignitary, whose tall figure exceeded that of the architect
in height by a full head, did not find it quite so easy to pass under
the ropes with his head bent down; but he did it with good humor, and
while carefully avoiding pulling down the wet linen, he called out:

"I am beginning to feel some respect for children's shirts; one can
at any rate get through them without breaking one's spine. Oh! this is
delicious--quite delicious!"

This exclamation was caused by the sight which the architect had invited
the prefect to come and enjoy, and which was certainly droll enough.
The front of the gate-keeper's house was quite grown over with ivy which
framed the door and window in its long runners. Amidst the greenery hung
numbers of cages with starlings, blackbirds, and smaller singing-birds.
The wide door of the little house stood open, giving a view into a
tolerably spacious and gaily-painted room. In the background stood a
clay model of an Apollo of admirable workmanship; above, and near this,
the wall was hung with lutes and lyres of various size and form.

In the middle of the room, and near the open door