ut her emotions were unstirred among the arrogant
Celtiberians who came to her feasts smelling of horses and with their
swords girded at their sides, and among the effeminate sons of
merchants, becurled, and shedding perfumes, caressing their small slave
boys, who accompanied them even in the bath.

"Athenian," continued the philosopher, "you should present yourself to
Sonnica. She will receive you kindly. You are not an ephebus," he added,
with a mocking smile; "your beard is turning gray, but you have in your
figure the arrogance of a king in the Iliad; upon your forehead
something of the majesty of Socrates; and who knows but that you may
fall heir to Bomaro's riches! If that should come to pass, do not forget
the poor philosopher. I will be content with a skin of wine from
Laurona, since to-day you condemn me to thirst."

Euphobias laughed, slapping Actaeon on the shoulder.

"I am invited to Sonnica's banquet to-night," said the Greek.

"You, also? Then we shall meet there. I am not invited, but I go with
the same right as a dog belonging to the house."

The philosopher saw Alcon, the peaceful citizen, who had just come down
from the Acropolis, pass through the centre of the Forum.

"There is one of the few good men of this city. He extols virtue to me,
he counsels me to go to work, and to forget philosophy, and on top of
all that he never fails to give me something to drink; so farewell until
to-night, stranger."

He hurried toward Alcon who, leaning on his staff, greeted him with a
kindly smile.

Actaeon, finding himself once more alone wandered through the centre of
the market. Suddenly he heard a youthful voice calling him. It was
Rhanto, sitting on the ground among the pitchers which were now empty of
milk, selling her last cheeses. Near her squatted the young potter. They
were eating a hard cake with fresh, juicy onions, playfully disputing
the mouthfuls amid merry laughter. The shepherdess offered Actaeon a
round cake, and the Greek accepted gratefully. He seemed destined to
receive his food in Saguntum from feminine hands. Twice since he landed
he had been succored by women.

Seated between the young people he saw the market gradually become
deserted. The shepherds drove their flocks toward the Gate of the Sea;
the Celtiberian chiefs, bearing their women behind them on their horses,
rode off at a gallop, eager to reach their villages in the mountains;
and the empty carts rumbled slowly toward the h