The architect turned his back upon the foreman in angry haste,
unrolled the plan of the palace, quickly found upon it the abode of the
recalcitrant steward, seized a small red-clay lamp that was standing
near him, and being quite accustomed to guide himself by a plan, went
straight through the rooms, which were not a few, and by a long corridor
from the hall of the Muses, to the lodging of the negligent official. An
unclosed door led him into a dark ante-chamber followed by another room,
and finally into a large, well-furnished apartment. All these door-ways,
into what seemed to be at once the dining and sitting-room of the
steward, were bereft of doors, and could only be closed by stuff
curtains, just now drawn wide open. Pontius could therefore look in,
unhindered and unperceived, at the table on which a three-branched
bronze lamp was standing between a dish and some plates. The stout man
was sitting with his rubicund moon-face towards the architect, who,
indignant as he was, would have gone straight up to him with swift
decision, if, before entering the second room, a low but pitiful sob had
not fallen on his ear.

The sob proceeded from a slight young girl who came forward from a door
beyond the sitting-room, and who now placed a platter with a loaf on the
table by the steward.

"Come, do not cry, Selene," said the steward, breaking the bread slowly
and with an evident desire to soothe his child.

"How can I help crying," said the girl. "But tomorrow morning let me buy
a piece of meat for you; the physician forbade you to eat bread."

"Man must be filled," replied the fat man, "and meat is dear. I have
nine mouths to fill, not counting the slaves. And where am I to get the
money to fill us all with meat?"

"We need none, but for you it is necessary."

"It is of no use, child. The butcher will not trust us any more, the
other creditors press us, and at the end of the month we shall have just
ten drachmae left us."

The girl turned pale, and asked in anxiety:

"But, father, it was only to-day that you showed me the three gold
pieces which you said had been given you as a present out of the money
distributed on the arrival of the Empress."

The steward absently rolled a piece of bread-crumb between his fingers
and said:

"I spent that on this fibula with an incised onyx--and as cheap as dirt,
I can tell you. If Caesar comes he must see who and what I am; and if I
die any one will give you twice as much for