d in their
way, and sent them to the southern side of the street of Hermes, to
mingle with the gaping crowd under the arcade.

They were, of course, but ill received by these, since they naturally
found themselves in front of the foremost rank; but the stalwart frame
and determined face of Andreas, and the exceptional beauty of his young
companion, over whose pretty head most of the gazers could easily see,
protected her from rough treatment.

Andreas spoke a few words of apology to those standing nearest to them,
and a young goldsmith at once courteously made way, so that Melissa, who
had taken a place behind a column, might see better.

And in a few minutes--there was that to see which made every one forget
the intruders. Vehicles and outriders, litters swung between mules, and
a long train of imperial footmen, in red tunics embroidered with
gold, huntsmen with leashes of noble dogs, baggage-wagons and loaded
elephants, came trooping down toward the Serapeum; while suddenly,
from the Aspendia into the Hermes Way, the Numidian horse rushed out,
followed by a troop of mounted lictors, who galloped up the street,
shouting their orders in loud tones to the imperial train, in a mixture
of Latin and Greek, of which Melissa understood only the words "Caesar!"
and "Make way to the right!"

The command was instantly obeyed. Vehicles, foot-passengers, and riders
alike crowded to the southern or left-hand side of the road, and the
many-headed throng, of which Andreas and Melissa formed a part, drew as
far back as possible under the colonnade; for on the edge of the footway
there was the risk of being trampled on by a horse or crushed by a
wheel. The back rows of the populace, who had collected under the
arcades, were severely squeezed by this fresh pressure from without, and
their outcries were loud of anger, alarm; or pain; while on the other
side of the street arose shouts of delight and triumph, or, when
anything singular came into view, loud laughter at the wit and irony of
some jester. Added to these there were the clatter of hoofs and the roll
of wheels, the whinnying of horses, the shouts of command, the rattle of
drums, the blare of trumpets, and the shrill pipe of flutes, without
a moment's pause. It was a wild and ear-splitting tumult; to Melissa,
however, neither painful nor pleasing, for the one idea, that she must
speak with the great physician, silenced every other. But suddenly there
came up from the east, fro