the steward to
lead him through the rooms.

"Directly--at once," answered the Greek, who had attained his present
ponderous dimensions through many years of rest: "I will hasten to fetch
the keys." And as he went, puffing and panting, he re-arranged with his
short, fat fingers the still abundant hair on the right side of his head.
Pontius looked after him.

"Call him back, Titianus," said he. "We disturbed him in the midst of
curling his hair; only one side was done when the lictor called him away,
and I will wager my own head that he will have the other side frizzled
before he comes back. I know your true Greek!"

"Well, let him," answered Titianus. "If you have taken his measure
rightly he will not be able to give his attention without reserve to our
questions till the other half of his hair is curled. I know, too, how to
deal with a Hellene."

"Better than I, I perceive," said the architect in a tone of conviction.
"A statesman is used to deal with men as we do with lifeless materials.
Did you see the fat fellow turn pale when you said that it would be but a
few days before the Emperor would make his entry here? Things must look
well in the old house there. Every hour is precious, and we have lingered
here too long."

The prefect nodded agreement and followed the architect into the inner
court of the palace. How grand and well-proportioned was the plan of this
immense building through which the steward Keraunus, who returned with
his fine curls complete all round, now led the Romans. It stood on an
artificial hill in the midst of the peninsula of Lochias, and from many a
window and many a balcony there were lovely prospects of the streets and
open squares, the houses, palaces and public buildings of the metropolis,
and of the harbor, swarming with ships. The outlook from Lochias was
rich, gay and varied to the south and west, but east and north from the
platform of the palace of the Ptolemies, the gaze fell on the
never-wearying prospect of the eternal sea, limited only by the vault of
heaven. When Hadrian had sent a special messenger from Mount Kasius to
desire his prefect Titianus to have this particular building prepared for
his reception, he knew full well what advantages its position offered; it
was the part of his officials to restore order in the interior of the
palace, which had remained uninhabited from the time of Cleopatra's
downfall. He gave them for the purpose eight, or perhaps nine,
days--little