ll
she was the grandchild of the man who had had the right to sell his
grandfather for mere coin, and was so high-born, rich and distinguished
that he would have thought it hardly more audacious to ask the Emperor
what he would take for the purple than to woo her. But to shelter her,
to warn her, to allow his soul to be refreshed by the sight of her and
by her talk--this he felt was permissible, this happiness no one could
deprive him of. And this she would grant him--she esteemed him and would
give him the right to protect her, this he felt, with thankfulness and
joy. He would, then and there, have gone through the exertions of the
last few hours all over again if he could have been certain that he
should once more be refreshed with the draught of water from her hand.
Only to think of her and of her sweetness seemed greater happiness than
the possession of any other woman.

As he got out of his litter at the door of his sister's town-house he
shook his head, smiling at himself; for he confessed to himself that
the whole of the long distance he had hardly thought of anything but
Balbilla.

Paulina's house had but few windows opening upon the street and these
belonged to the strangers' rooms, and yet his arrival had been observed.
A window at the side of the house, all grown round with creepers, framed
in a sweet girlish head which looked down from it inquisitively on the
bustle in the street. Pontius did not notice it, but Arsinoe--for it was
her pretty face that looked out--at once recognized the architect whom
she had seen at Lochias and of whom Pollux had spoken as his friend and
patron.

She had now, for a week, been living with the rich widow; she wanted
for nothing, and yet her soul longed with all its might to be out in the
city, and to inquire for Pollux and his parents, of whom she had heard
nothing since the day of her father's death. Her lover was no doubt
seeking her with anxiety and sorrow; but how was he to find her?

Three days after her arrival she had discovered the little window from
which she had a view of the street. There was plenty to be seen, for
it led to the Hippodrome and was never empty of foot-passengers and
chariots that were proceeding thither or to Necropolis. No doubt it was
a pleasure to her to watch the fine horses and garlanded youths and men
who passed by Paulina's house; but it was not merely to amuse herself
that she went to the bowery little opening; no, she hoped, on the
cont