ght learn--providing that her health be good," he added
with studied indifference.

The latter phrase proved a cunning one. The few likely buyers who had
been attracted to the catasta by the youthful appearance of the
girl--hoping to find willingness, even if skill were wanting--now
quickly drew away.

Of a truth there was no guarantee as to her health and a sick slave was
a burden and a nuisance.

"Ten aurei then," said Hun Rhavas raising the hammer, whilst with hungry
eyes the mother watched his every movement.

A few more seconds of this agonising suspense! Oh! ye gods, how this
waiting hurts! She pressed her hands against her side where a terrible
pain turned her nearly giddy.

Only a second or two whilst the hammer was poised in mid air and Hun
Rhavas' furtive glance darted on the praefect to see if he were still
indifferent! Menecreta prayed with all her humble might to the proud
gods enthroned upon the hill! she prayed that this cycle of agony might
end at last for she could not endure it longer. She prayed that that
cruel hammer might descend and her child be delivered over to her at
last.

CHAPTER IV

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick."--PROVERBS XIII. 12.

Alas, the Roman gods are the gods of the patricians! They take so little
heed of the sorrows and the trials of poor freedmen and slaves!

"Who ordered the hat to be put on this girl's head?" suddenly interposed
the harsh voice of the praefect.

He had not moved away from the rostrum all the while that the throng of
obsequious sycophants and idle lovesick youths had crowded round Dea
Flavia. Now he spoke over his shoulder at Hun Rhavas, who had no
thought, whilst his comfortable little plot was succeeding so well, that
the praefect was paying heed.

"She hath no guarantee, as my lord's grace himself hath knowledge," said
the African with anxious humility.

"Nay! thou liest as to my knowledge of it," said Taurus Antinor. "Where
is the list of goods compiled by the censor?"

Three pairs of willing hands were ready with the parchment rolls which
the praefect had commanded; one was lucky enough to place them in his
hands.

"What is the girl's name?" he asked as his deep-set eyes, under their
perpetual frown, ran down the minute writing on the parchment roll.

"Nola, the daughter of Menecreta, my lord," said one of the scribes.

"I do not see the name of Nola, daughter of Menecreta, amongst those
whom the State doth not guarantee fo