taken off his mask, and though
he was not particularly afraid of being recognized in his disguise he
chose a couch that was screened by a broad pillar in one of the
arcades at the inner side of the court, and which, now that evening was
beginning to fall was already in obscurity. There he ordered, first some
wine and then some oysters to begin, with; while he was eating these he
called one of the superintendents and discussed with him the details
of the supper he wished presently to be served to himself and his two
guests. During this conversation the bustling host came to make his
bow to his new customer, and seeing that he had to do with a man fully
conversant with all the pleasures of the table, he remained to attend on
him, and entered with special zeal into Hadrian's various requirements.

There was, too, plenty to be seen in the court, which roused the
curiosity of the most inquisitive and enquiring man of his time. In the
large space enclosed by the arcades, and under the eyes of the guests,
on gridirons and hearths, over spits and in ovens the various dishes
were prepared which were served up by the slaves. The cooks prepared
their savory messes on large, clean tables, and the scene of their
labors, which, though enclosed by cords was open to public gaze was
surrounded by a small market, where however only the choicest of wares
were displayed.

Here in tempting array was every variety of vegetable reared on Greek or
Egyptian soil; here speckless fruits of every size and hue were set out,
and there ready baked, shining, golden-brown pasties were displayed.
Those containing meat, fish or the mussels of Canopus were prepared in
Alexandria itself, but others containing fruit or the leaves of flowers
were brought from Arsinoe on the shores of Lake Moeris, for in that
neighborhood the cultivation of fruit and horticulture generally were
pursued with the greatest success. Meat of all sorts lay or hung in
suitable places; there were juicy hams from Cyrene, Italian sausages and
uncooked joints of various slaughtered beasts. By them lay or hung game
and poultry in select abundance, and a large part of the court was taken
up by a tank in which the choicest of the scaly tribes of the Nile,
and of the lakes of Northern Egypt, were swimming about as well as
the Muraena and other fish of Italian breed. Alexandrian crabs and the
mussels, oysters, and cray-fish of Canopus and Klysma were kept alive in
buckets or jars. The smoke