particularly pleased you in him?" asked Hadrian, who was much
amused with the shrewd old woman's freedom.

"He never for a moment loses his temper in all the hurry, never speaks
a word too much or too little; he can be stern when it is necessary, but
he is kind to his inferiors. What his merits are as an artist I am not
capable of judging, but I am quite certain that he is a just and able
man."

"I know him myself," replied Caesar, "and you describe him rightly; but
he seemed to me sterner than he has shown himself to you."

"Being a man he must be able to be severe; but he is so only when it
is necessary, and how kind he can be he shows himself every day. A man
grows to the mould of his own mind when he is a great deal alone; and
this I have noticed, that a man who is repellant and sharp to those
beneath him is not in himself anything really great; for it shows that
he considers it necessary to guard against the danger of being looked
upon as of no more consequence than the poorer folks he deals with. Now,
a man of real worth knows that it can be seen in his bearing, even when
he treats one of us as an equal. Pontius does so, and Titianus, and you
who are his friend, no less. It is a good thing that you should have
come--but, as I said before, the architect up there can do very well
without you."

"You do not seem to rate my capacity very highly, and I regret it,
for you have lived with your eyes open and have learned to judge men
keenly."

Doris looked shrewdly at the Emperor with her kindly glance, as if
taking his mental measure, and then answered confidently:

"You--you are a great man too--it is quite possible that you might see
things that would escape Pontius. There are a few choice souls whom the
Muses particularly love and you are one of them."

"What leads you to suppose so?"

"I see it in your gaze--in your brow."

"You have the gift of divination, then?"

"No, I am not one of that sort; but I am the mother of two sons on
whom also the Immortals have bestowed the special gift, which I cannot
exactly describe. It was in them I first saw it, and wherever I have
met with it since in other men and artists--they have been the elect of
their circle. And you too--I could swear to it, that you are foremost of
the men among whom you live."

"Do not swear lightly," laughed the Emperor. "We will meet and talk
together again little mother, and when I depart I will ask you again
whether you have not been de