and veiled. He began to offer the customary
salutations, but Domitian cut him short.

"Rise, man," he said. "That sort of thing is very well in public, but
I don't want it here. So you have got her," he added, eyeing the draped
form in the background.

"Yes," replied Saturius doubtfully.

"Good, your services shall be remembered. You were ever a discreet and
faithful agent. Did the bidding run high?"

"Oh! my lord, enormous, ee--normous. I never heard such bidding," and he
stretched out his hands.

"Impertinence! Who dared to compete with me?" remarked Domitian. "Well,
what did you have to give?"

"Fifty sestertia, my lord."

"Fifty sestertia?" answered Domitian with an air of relief. "Well, of
course it is enough, but I have known beautiful maidens fetch more. By
the way, dear one," he went on, addressing the veiled woman, "you must,
I fear, be tired after all that weary, foolish show."

The "dear one" making no audible reply, Domitian went on:

"Modesty is pleasing in a maid, but now I pray you, forget it for
awhile. Unveil yourself, most beautiful, that I may behold that
loveliness for which my heart has ached these many days. Nay, that task
shall be my own," and he advanced somewhat unsteadily towards his prize.

Saturius thought that he saw his chance. Domitian was so intoxicated
that it would be useless to attempt to explain matters that night.
Clearly he should retire as soon as possible.

"Most noble prince and patron," he began, "my duty is done, with your
leave I will withdraw."

"By no means, by no means," hiccupped Domitian, "I know that you are an
excellent judge of beauty, most discriminating Saturius, and I should
like to talk over the points of this lady with you. You know, dear
Saturius, that I am not selfish, and to tell the truth, which you won't
mind between friends--who could be jealous of a wizened, last year's
walnut of a man like you? Not I, Saturius, not I, whom everybody
acknowledges to be the most beautiful person in Rome, much better
looking than Titus is, although he does call himself Caesar. Now for it.
Where's the fastening? Saturius, find the fastening. Why do you tie up
the poor girl like an Egyptian corpse and prevent her lord and master
from looking at her?"

As he spoke the slave did something to the back of her head and the
veil fell to the ground, revealing a girl of very pleasing shape and
countenance, but who, as might be expected, looked most weary and
frightene