sk his young and happy existence
for a thing his friend holds precious would sacrifice ten lives if he
had them, for his friend's person. Never, my friend, shall that night be
forgotten. It gives you the right to do much that might pain me, and
has graven your name on my heart, the foremost among those to whom I am
indebted for any benefit.--They are but few."

Hadrian held out his hand to Antinous as he spoke. The boy, who had kept
his eyes fixed on the ground in much confusion, raised it to his lips
and pressed it against them in violent agitation. Then he raised his
large eyes to the Emperor's and said:

"You must not speak to me so kindly, for I do not deserve such goodness.
What is my life after all? I would let it go, as a child leaves go of a
beetle it has caught, to spare you one single anxious day."

"I know it," answered Hadrian firmly, and he went to the prefect in the
adjoining room.

Titianus had come in obedience to Hadrian's orders; the matter to be
settled was what indemnification was to be paid to the city and to
the individual owners of the storehouses that had been destroyed, for
Hadrian had caused a decree to be proclaimed that no one should suffer
any loss through a misfortune sent by the gods and which had originated
in his residence. The prefect had already instituted the necessary
inquiries and the private secretaries, Phlegon, Heliodorus and Celer,
were now charged with the duty of addressing documents to the injured
parties in which they were invited, in the name of Caesar, to declare
the truth as to the amount of the loss they had suffered. Titianus
also brought the information that the Greeks and Jews had determined
to express their thankfulness for Caesar's preservation by great
thank-offerings.

"And the Christians," asked Hadrian.

"They abominate the sacrifice of animals, but they will unite in a
common act of thanksgiving."

"Their gratitude will not cost them much," said Hadrian.

"Their bishop, Eumenes, brought me a sum of money for which a hundred
oxen might be bought, to distribute among the poor. He said the God of
the Christians is a spirit and requires none but spiritual sacrifices;
that the best offering a man can bring him is a prayer prompted by the
spirit and proceeding from a loving heart."

"That sounds very well for us," said Hadrian. "But it will not do for
the people. Philosophical doctrines do not tend to piety; the populace
need visible gods and tangible sacr