of courtiers and was the first to reach her litter
even as she put her dainty feet to the ground.

Escanes too and Caius Nepos, and Philippus Decius and the other young
men there, forgot the excitement of the aborted quarrel and pressed
forward to pay their respects to Dea Flavia.

The aspect of her court was changed in a moment. Her lictors chased the
importunate crowd away, making room for the masters of Rome who desired
speech with their mistress. The rough and sombre garments of the slaves
showed in the background now, and all round the litter tunics and
mantles of fleecy wool gorgeously embroidered in crimson and gold, or
stripes of purple, crowded in eager medley.

All at once too the immediate neighbourhood of the rostrum was deserted,
the human chattels forgotten in the anxious desire to catch sight of the
great lady whom the Caesar himself had styled Augusta--thus exalting her
above all women in Rome. Her boundless wealth and lavish expenditure, as
well as her beauty and acknowledged virtue, had been the talk of the
city ever since the death of her father, Octavius Claudius of the House
of Augusta Caesar, had placed her under the immediate tutelage of the
Caesar and left her--young and beautiful as she was--in possession of one
of the largest fortunes in the Empire. No wonder then that whenever her
rose-draped litter was perceived in the streets of Rome a crowd of
idlers and of sycophants pressed around it, curious to see the queen of
society and anxious to catch her ear.

This same instant of momentary excitement became that of renewed hope
for an anxious mother's heart. Menecreta, with the keenness of her
ardent desire, had at once grasped her opportunity. Hun Rhavas
fortunately glanced down in her direction. He too no doubt saw the
possibilities of this moment of general confusion. The five aurei
promised him by Menecreta sharpened his resourceful wits. He signalled
to one of the lictors below--an accomplice too, I imagine, in this
transaction--and whilst a chorus of obsequious greetings round Dea
Flavia's litter filled the noonday air like the hum of bees, a
pale-faced, delicate-looking girl was quickly pushed up on to the
platform.

Hun Rhavas very perfunctorily declaimed her age and status.

"Of no known skill," he said, mumbling his words and talking very
rapidly, "since my lord's grace the late censor had made no use of her.
Shall we say ten aurei for the girl? she might be made to learn a
trade.