der hands of his were
singularly clumsy. And she smiled because she had recollected how like
his fellowmen he really was, how he evidently forgot his wrath and sank
his pride for the pleasure of kneeling at her feet.

To this homage she was well accustomed. Many there were in Rome who at
this moment would gladly have changed places with the praefect. More
than one great patrician had craved the honour of tying her shoe, more
than one patrician hand had trembled whilst performing this service.

And Dea Flavia smiled because already she guessed--or thought that she
guessed--what would follow the tying of her shoe--a humble kiss upon her
foot, the natural homage of a man to her beauty and to her power.

The daughter of Caesar smiled because the spirit of child-like
waywardness was in her, and she thought that she would like the
slave-like homage from this man whom her wrath and threats had left
impassive but whom her beauty had at last brought down to his knees; and
thus smiling she waited patiently, content that he should be clumsy,
glad that in the distance, under the arcade of the tabernae, she had
spied Hortensius Martius watching with wrathful eyes every movement of
the praefect. She wondered if the young exquisite had heard the wordy
warfare between herself and the proud man who now knelt quite awkwardly
at her feet, and she guessed that what Hortensius had seen and heard,
that he would retail at full length to his friends in the course of the
banquet given by Caius Nepos to-morrow night.

For the moment she felt almost sorry for the giant brought down to his
knees; the kiss which she so confidently anticipated would of a truth
complete his surrender, since she had resolved to make him kiss the dust
by suddenly withdrawing her foot from under his lips, and then to laugh
at him, and to allow her slaves to laugh and jeer at him as he lay
sprawling in the dust, his huge arms lying crosswise on the flagstones
before her.

The spirit of mischief was in her, the love to tease a helpless giant;
so for the nonce anger almost died out within her and her eyes looked
clear and blue as triumph and joy danced within their depths.

But now Taurus Antinor had finished tying her shoe. He did not stoop
further nor did he embrace the dust; but he straightened his broad
shoulders and raised himself from his knees without rendering that
homage which was expected of him.

"Hast further commands for thy servant, O daughter of Caesa