to be."

"But you have not said a word to me about keeping silence."

"Because you have kept other tests--still, to be sure, you are a woman,
and a very handsome one besides."

"An old grandmother, with grey hair!"

"And still more upright and more charming than a thousand of the most
admired younger beauties."

"You are trying to convert my pride into vanity, in my old age."

"No, no! I was only looking at you with an examining eye, as our talk led
me to do, and I remembered that Sabina had lamented that handsome Julia
was not looking well. But where is there another woman of your age with
such a carriage, such unwrinkled features, so clear a brow, such deep
kind eyes, such beautifully-polished arms--"

"Be quiet," exclaimed his wife. "You make me blush."

"And may I not be proud that a grandmother, who is a Roman, as my wife
is, can find it so easy to blush? You are quite different from other
women."

"Because you are different from other men."

"You are a flatterer; since all our children have left us, it is as if we
were newly married again."

"Ah! the apple of discord is removed."

"It is always over what he loves best that man is most prompt to be
jealous. But now, once more, farewell."

Titianus kissed his wife's forehead and hurried towards the door; Julia
called him back and said:

"One thing at any rate we can do for Caesar. I send food every day down
to the architect at Lochias, and to-day there shall be three times the
quantity."

"Good; do so."

"Farewell, then."

"And we shall meet again, when it shall please the gods and the Emperor."

........................

When the prefect reached the appointed spot, no vessel with a silver star
was to be seen.

The sun went down and no ship with three red lanterns was visible.

The harbor-master, into whose house Titianus went, was told that he
expected a great architect from Rome, who was to assist Pontius with his
counsel in the works at Lochias, and he thought it quite intelligible
that the governor should do a strange artist the honor of coming to meet
him; for the whole city was well aware of the incredible haste and the
lavish outlay of means that were being given to the restoration of the
ancient palace of the Ptolemies as a residence for the Emperor.

While he was waiting, Titianus remembered the young sculptor Pollux,
whose acquaintance he had made, and his mother in the pretty little
gate-house. Well disposed towards