gainst me it must remain, then," replied the little man in a fury. "Do
all the kings in the world want this girl? Already I have exceeded my
limit by five hundred sestertia. I dare do no more. Let her go."

"Don't vex yourself, Saturius," said the auctioneer, "bidding is one
thing, paying another. At present I have a bona-fide bid of fifteen
hundred from you. Unless this liberal but unknown lady is prepared with
the cash I shall close on that. Do you understand, madam?"

"Perfectly," answered the veiled old woman. "Being a stranger to Rome I
thought it well to bring the gold with me, since strangers cannot expect
credit."

"To bring the gold with you!" gasped the auctioneer. "To bring two
thousand sestertia with you! Where is it then?"

"Where? Oh! in my servant's and my own baskets, and something more as
well. Come, good sir, I have made my bid. Does the worthy gentleman
advance?"

"No," shouted Saturius. "You are being fooled, she has not got the
money."

"If he does not advance and no other worthy gentleman wishes to bid,
then will you knock the lot down?" said the old woman. "Pardon me if
I press you, noble seller of slaves, but I must ride far from Rome
to-night, to Centum Cellae, indeed, where my ship waits; therefore, I
have no time to lose."

Now the auctioneer saw that there was no choice, since under the rules
of the public mart he must accept the offer of the highest bidder.

"Two thousand sestertia are bid for this lot No. 7, the Jewish captive
known as Pearl-Maiden, sold by order of Titus Imperator, together with
her collar of pearls and the property to which, as a free woman, she
would have been entitled. Any advance on two thousand sestertia?" and he
looked at Saturius, who shook his head. "No? Then--going--going--gone!
I declare the lot sold, to be delivered on payment of the cash to the
person named--by the way, madam, what is your name?"

"Mulier."

At this the company burst into a loud laugh.

"Mulier?" repeated the auctioneer, "M u l i e r--Woman?"

"Yes, am I not a woman, and what better name can I have than is given to
all my sex?"

"In truth, you are so wrapped up that I must take your word for it,"
replied the auctioneer. "But come, let us put an end to this farce. If
you have the money, follow me into the receiving house--for I must see
to the matter myself--and pay it down."

"With pleasure, sir, but be so good as to bring my property with
you. She is too valuable to be left h