tottering she pushed her way through the door into the
garden and hobbled down to the sea, grasping her temples in her hands.

CHAPTER II.

The Alexandrians were a stiff-necked generation. Only some phenomenal
sight far transcending their every-day experience could avail to make
them turn their heads to stare at it, but just now there was something
to look at, at every moment and in every street of the city. To-day
too each one thought only of himself and of his own pleasure. Some
particularly pretty, tall, or well-dressed figure would give rise to
a smile or an exclamation of approval, but before one sight had been
thoroughly enjoyed the inquisitive eye was seeking a fresh one.

Thus it happened that no one paid any special attention to Hadrian and
his companions who allowed themselves to be unresistingly carried along
the streets by the current of the crowd; and yet each one of them was,
in his way, a remarkable object. Hadrian was dressed as Silenus, Pollux
as a faun. Both wore masks and the disguise of the younger man was as
well suited to his pliant and vigorous figure as that of the elder to
his powerful stately person. Antinous followed his master, dressed as
Eros. He wore a crimson mantle and was crowned with roses, while the
silver quiver on his shoulder and the bow in his hand clearly symbolized
the god he was intended to represent. He too wore a mask, but his figure
attracted many gazers, and many a greeting of "Long live the god of
love" or "Be gracious to me oh! son of Aphrodite" was spoken as he
passed.

Pollux had obtained all the things requisite for these disguises from
the store of drapery belonging to his master. Papias had been out, but
the young man did not deem it necessary to ask his consent, for he and
the other assistants had often used the things for similar purposes with
his full permission. Only as he took the quiver intended for Antinous,
Pollux hesitated a little for it was of solid silver and had been
given to his master by the wife of a wealthy cone-dealer, whom he had
represented in marble as Artemis equipped for the chase.

"The Roman's handsome companion," thought the young artist as he placed
the costly object in with the others in a basket, which a squinting
apprentice was to carry behind him--"The Roman's handsome companion must
be made a splendid Eros--and before sunrise the useless thing will be
hanging on its hook again."

Indeed Pollux had not much time to admire th