ing occasional appeals to a
gold goblet which stood on the table.

'Ha! No other than my preserver himself! Boy, I will make your fortune.
Miriam says that you wish to enter my service.'

Philammon, not knowing what to say, thought the best answer would be to
bow as low as he could.

'Ah, ha! Graceful, but not quite according to etiquette. You will soon
teach him, eh, Secretary? Now to business. Hand me the notes to sign and
seal. To the Prefect of the Stationaries--'

'Here, your Excellency.'

'To the Prefect of the Corn market--how many wheat-ships have you
ordered to be unladen?'

'Two, your Excellency.'

'Well, that will be largess enough for the time being. To the Defender
of the Plebs--the devil break his neck!'

'He may be trusted, most noble; he is bitterly jealous of Cyril's
influence. And moreover, he owes my insignificance much money.'

'Good! Now the notes to the Gaol-masters, about the gladiators.'

'Here, your Excellency.'

'To Hypatia. No. I will honour my bride elect with my own illustrious
presence. As I live, here is a morning's work for a man with a racking
headache!'

'Your Excellency has the strength of seven. May you live for ever!'

And really, Orestes's power of getting through business, when he chose,
was surprising enough. A cold head and a colder heart make many things
easy.

But Philammon's whole soul was fixed on those words. 'His bride
elect!'.... Was it that Miriam's hints of the day before had raised some
selfish vision, or was it pity and horror at such a fate for her--for
his idol?--But he passed five minutes in a dream, from which he was
awakened by the sound of another and still dearer name.

'And now, for Pelagia. We can but try.'

'Your Excellency might offend the Goth.'

'Curse the Goth! He shall have his choice of all the beauties in
Alexandria, and be count of Pentapolis if he likes. But a spectacle I
must have; and no one but Pelagia can dance Venus Anadyomene.'

Philammon's blood rushed to his heart, and then back again to his brow,
as he reeled with horror and shame.

'The people will be mad with joy to see her on the stage once more.
Little they thought, the brutes, how I was plotting for their amusement,
even when as drunk as Silenus.'

'Your nobility only lives for the good of your slaves.'

'Here, boy! So fair a lady requires a fair messenger. You shall enter on
my service at once, and carry this letter to Pelagia. Why?--why do you
not come and