d body before dame Julia, and said with a
graceful gesture of regret:

"My old eyes have deceived me again on this occasion. The little girl is
very like one of my workwomen; very like--but I see now that there is
a certain something which the other lacks. I have done her an injustice
and remain her debtor. Permit, me, noble lady to add the ornaments to
the dress you provide for our Roxana. I may be lucky enough to find
something pretty for her. A sweet child! I shall go at once and beg her
forgiveness and tell her what we propose. May I do so noble Julia? Have
I your permission gentlemen?"

In a very few minutes it was known all over the stage, and soon after
all through the amphitheatre, that Arsinoe, the daughter of Keraunus,
had been selected to represent the character of Roxana.

"But who was Keraunus?"

"How was it that the children of the most illustrious and wealthy
citizens had been overlooked in assigning this most prominent part?"

"This was just what might be expected when every thing was left to those
reckless artists!"

"And where was a poor little girl like that to find the talents which
it would cost to procure the costume of an Asiatic princess, Alexander's
bride?"

"Plutarch, and the prefect's wife had undertaken that."

"A mere beggar."

"How well the family jewels would have suited our daughters!"

"Do we want to show Caesar nothing but a few silly pretty faces?--and
not something of our wealth and taste?"

"Supposing Hadrian asks who this Roxana is, and had to be told that a
collection had to be made to get her a proper costume."

"Such things never could happen anywhere but in Alexandria."

"Every one wants to know whether she worked in Plutarch's factory. They
say it is not true--but the painted old villain still loves a pretty
face. He smuggled her in, you may be sure; where there is smoke there is
fire, and it is beyond a doubt that she gets money from the old man."

"What for?"

"Ah! you had better enquire of a priest of Aphrodite. It is nothing to
laugh at, it is scandalous, audacious!"

Thus and on this wise ran the comments with which the announcement of
Arsinoe's preferment to the part of Roxana was received, and hatred
and bitter animosity had grown up in the souls of the dealer and his
daughter. Praxilla was selected as a companion to Alexander's bride,
and she yielded without objecting, but on her way homewards she nodded
assent when her father said:

"Let things go