hough he shed no tears. Still, in the midst
of his self-accusation, the flattering voice made itself heard in his
soul: "It is only to preserve your master from sorrow, and it is nothing
wrong that you are asked to do." And each time that his inward ear heard
these words he began to puzzle his brain to discover in what way it
might be possible for him to tempt the Emperor, at the hour named, down
from his watch-tower in the palace. But he could hit on no practicable
plan.

"It cannot be done, no--it cannot be done!" he muttered to himself and
then he asked himself if it were not even his duty to defy the praetor
and to confess to Hadrian that he had deceived him in the morning. If
only it had not been for the little bottle! Could he ever confess that
he had heedlessly parted with this gift of all others from his master?
No, it was too hard, it might cost him his sovereign's affection for
ever. And if he contented himself with a half-truth and confessed,
merely to anticipate the praetor's accusation, that Selene was still
living, then he would involve the daughters of the hapless Keraunus in
persecution and disgrace Selene whom he loved with all the devotion of
a first passion, which was enhanced and increased by the hindrances
that had come in its way. It was impossible to confess his guilt-quite
impossible. The longer he thought, tormenting himself to find some way
out of it all, the more confused he became, and the more impotent his
efforts at resistance. The praetor had entangled him with thongs and
meshes, and at every struggle to escape they only seemed knotted more
closely round him.

His head began to ache sadly; and what an endless time Caesar was
absent! He dreaded his return, and yet he longed for it. When at last
Hadrian came in and signed to Master to relieve him of his imperial
robes, Antinous slipped behind him, and silently and carefully fulfilled
the slave's office. He felt uneasy and worried, and yet he forced
himself to appear in good spirits during supper when he had to sit
opposite the Emperor.

When, shortly before midnight, Hadrian rose from the table to go up to
the watch-tower on the northern side of the palace, Antinous begged to
be allowed to carry his instruments for him, and the Emperor, stroking
his hair, said kindly:

"You are my dear and faithful companion. Youth has a right to go astray
now and then so long as it does not entirely forget the path in which it
ought to tread."

Antin