u wert when
wearing the golden bulla on thy neck."

"I am happy," answered Vinicius. "I have invited thee purposely to tell
thee so."

"What has happened?"

"Something which I would not give for the Roman Empire."

Then he sat down, and, leaning on the arm of the chair, rested his head
on his hand, and asked,--"Dost remember how we were at the house of
Aulus Plautius, and there thou didst see for the first time the godlike
maiden called by thee 'the dawn and the spring'? Dost remember that
Psyche, that incomparable, that one more beautiful than our maidens and
our goddesses?"

Petronius looked at him with astonishment, as if he wished to make sure
that his head was right.

"Of whom art thou speaking?" asked he at last. "Evidently I remember
Lygia."

"I am her betrothed."

"What!"

But Vinicius sprang up and called his dispensator.

"Let the slaves stand before me to the last soul, quickly!"

"Art thou her betrothed?" repeated Petronius.

But before he recovered from his astonishment the immense atrium was
swarming with people. Panting old men ran in, men in the vigor of life,
women, boys, and girls. With each moment the atrium was filled more
and more; in corridors, called "fauces," voices were heard calling in
various languages. Finally, all took their places in rows at the walls
and among the columns. Vinicius, standing near the impluvium, turned to
Demas, the freedman, and said,--

"Those who have served twenty years in my house are to appear tomorrow
before the pretor, where they will receive freedom; those who have not
served out the time will receive three pieces of gold and double rations
for a week. Send an order to the village prisons to remit punishment,
strike the fetters from people's feet, and feed them sufficiently. Know
that a happy day has come to me, and I wish rejoicing in the house."

For a moment they stood in silence, as if not believing their ears;
then all hands were raised at once, and all mouths cried,--"A-a! lord!
a-a-a!"

Vinicius dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Though they desired to
thank him and to fall at his feet, they went away hurriedly, filling the
house with happiness from cellar to roof.

"To-morrow," said Vinicius, "I will command them to meet again in the
garden, and to make such signs on the ground as they choose. Lygia will
free those who draw a fish."

Petronius, who never wondered long at anything, had grown indifferent,
and asked,--"A fish, is i