ing
to receive him? and didst thou note that noble Roman who stood next but
one to thee when those dancing-girls came forward to dance to us? I know
thou sawest him, Nika, for I saw your eyes meet. Well, he has come from
Rome to govern. He is the new Proconsul. His influence in the imperial
city is great. Besides, he is positively a favourite with the Emperor. I
tell thee all this that thou mayest know of him. Moreover, Lucius has
bidden him to spend this evening here, and thou wilt have ample time to
satisfy thy curious mind respecting him, and, fortunately or
unfortunately, as the Fates may determine, Chios also will be here.
Nika, take care; this Roman is not a child or a fool! They say he is
impetuous, firm, resolute when need be. Now let us join my husband. I
see him yonder gathering flowers.'

Lucius came to them, smiling as he came. He offered a rose to Nika, but
Venusta said: 'No, no; let me choose first! I will take the rose. Give
her an unthorned flower; the emblem of evil and good, pleasure and pain,
shall be mine, for we twain are one, husband, and if this flower
presages aught than happiness, then may I, thy loving wife, rest on thy
strong arm, as this rose clung to the oak from which thou pluckedst it.'

Nika was walking solitary, alone.

'Give her a bloom which speaks the language of hope;' and he approached
and gave her the pink-white almond flower.

CHAPTER VII

CAUGHT

'Venusta,' said Lucius, 'I have been thinking of that slave girl, the
dark Phoenician maid, Saronia; I see her not in her accustomed place. I
feel a keen interest in that weird beauty. What of her? Is she dead, or
what?'

'She is as good as dead to us, dear. She is at the Temple, and has been
initiated as a priestess for the presiding goddess.'

'Priestess! priestess! What does it all mean? Light dawns! I saw
her--yes, I saw her--as I passed through the city yesterday. Now I
understand. Hear me. As I passed near the great theatre some maidens of
the Temple came that way. I stood still, with bared head; the sounds of
greeting were stayed until they went with solemn tread; and, as they
passed, one with eyes deep-looking like the ocean's depths, turned them
full on me, and gazed into my inner soul, and, like a barque which
strikes a sunken rock and staggers, so did my spirit. I did my best to
divine who she was, but all was dark, and I moved on with clouded mind.
Now