ture, and four graceful boys. In the slave, Pollux at once
recognized the servant of Claudius Venator, and he fancied he must have
seen the masked gentlemen too before now, but he could not remember
where, and did not trouble himself to retrace him in his mind. At any
rate, the rider of the donkey had just heard something he did not like,
for he was looking anxiously at his bunch of flowers.

After Pollux had hurried past this strange party his thoughts reverted
to other, and to him far nearer and dearer subjects. But Mastor's
anxious looks were not without a cause, for the gentleman who was
talking to him was no less a person than Verus, the praetor, who was
called by the Alexandrians the sham Eros. He had seen the Emperor's
body-slave a hundred times about his person; he therefore recognized
him at once, and his presence here in Alexandria led him directly to the
simple and correct inference that his master too must be in the city.
The praetor's curiosity was roused, and he at once proceeded to ply
the poor fellow with bewildering cross-questions. When the donkey-rider
shortly and sharply refused to answer, Verus thought it well to reveal
himself to him, and the slave lost his confident demeanor when he
recognized the grand gentleman, the Emperor's particular friend.

He lost himself in contradictory statements, and although he did not
directly admit it, he left his interrogator in the certainty that
Hadrian was in Alexandria.

It was perfectly evident that the beautiful nosegay, which had attracted
the praetor's attention to Mastor could not belong to himself. What
could be its destination? Verus recommenced his questioning, but the
Sarmatian would betray nothing, till Verus tapped him lightly first on
one cheek and then on the other, and said gaily:

"Mastor, my worthy friend Mastor, listen to me. I will make you certain
proposals, and you shall nod your head, towards that of the estimable
beast with two pairs of legs on which you are mounted, as soon as one of
them takes your fancy."

"Let me go on my way," the slave implored, with growing anxiety.

"Go, by all means, but I go with you," retorted Verus, "until I have hit
on the thing that suits you. A great many plans dwell in my head, as you
will see. First I must ask you, shall I go to your master and tell him
that you have betrayed his presence in Alexandria?"

"Sir, you will never do that!" cried Mastor.

"To proceed then. Shall I and my following hang