somewhat
stupid-looking youth, dark-haired, like his father and uncles, but
having large, blue, and not unkindly eyes. From his flushed face I
gathered that he had drunk well of the strong Greek wine, and from the
sullen look about his mouth that, as was common, he had been quarrelling
with his mother.

I stood at the end of the table and saluted first the Empress and then
the Emperor.

"Who's this?" he asked, glancing at me.

"General Olaf, of my guard," she answered, "Governor of the State
Prison. You remember, you wished me to send for him to settle the point
as to which we were arguing."

"Oh! yes. Well, General Olaf, of my mother's guard, have you not been
told that you should salute the Augustus before the Augusta?"

"Sire," I answered humbly, "I have heard nothing of that matter, but in
the land where I was bred I was taught that if a man and a woman were
together I must always bow first to the woman and then to the man."

"Well said," exclaimed the Empress, clapping her hands; but the Emperor
answered: "Doubtless your mother taught you that, not your father. Next
time you enter the imperial chamber be pleased to forget the lesson and
to remember that Emperors and Empresses are not men and women."

"Sire," I answered, "as you command I will remember that Emperors and
Empresses are not men and women, but Emperors and Empresses."

At these words the Augustus began to scowl, but, changing his mind,
laughed, as did his mother. He filled a gold cup with wine and pushed it
towards me, saying:

"Drink to us, soldier, for after you have done so, our wits may be
better matched."

I took the cup and holding it, said:

"I pledge your Imperial Majesties, who shine upon the world like twin
stars in the sky. All hail to your Majesties!" and I drank, but not too
deep.

"You are clever," growled the Augustus. "Well, keep the cup; you've
earned it. Yet drain it first, man. You have scarce wet your lips. Do
you fear that it is poisoned, as you say yonder fruits are?" And he
pointed to a side-table, where stood a jar of glass in which were those
very figs that had been sent to the princes in the prison.

"The cup you give is mine," interrupted Irene; "still, my servant is
welcome to the gift. It shall be sent to your quarters, General."

"A soldier has no need of such gauds, your Majesties," I began, when
Constantine, who, while we spoke, had swallowed another draught of the
strong wine, broke in angrily:

"May