who will spend the gains of
a month on a night's debauch, for fear that the morrow will rob them of
life and the chance of spending; and, moreover, it is their one point of
honour to be curbed in no desire by an ordinary fear of consequences. As
will appear.

I went quickly towards the largest knot of these people, who were
skulking behind the houses, leaving the litter halted in the path behind
me, and I bade them sharply enough to disperse. "For an employment,"
I added, "put your houses in order, and clean the fish offal from the
lanes between them. To-morrow I will come round here to inspect, and put
this quarter into a better order. But for to-day the Empress (whose name
be adored) wishes for a privacy, so cease your staring."

"Then give us money," said a shrill voice from amongst the huts.

"I will send you a torch in an hour's time," I said grimly, "and rig you
a gallows, if you give me more annoyance. To your kennels, you!"

I think they would have obeyed the voice of authority if they had been
left to themselves. There was a quick stir amongst them. Those that
stood in the sunlight instinctively slipped into the shadow, and many
dodged into the houses and cowered in dark corners out of sight. But the
men in the two hide-covered fisher-boats that were paddling up, called
them back with boisterous cries.

I signed to the litter-bearers to move on quickly along their road.
There was need of discipline here, and I was minded to deal it out
myself with a firm hand. I judged that I could prevent them following
the Empress, but if she still remained as a glittering bait for them to
rob, and I had to protect her also, it might be that my work would not
be done so effectively.

But it seems I was presumptuous in giving an order which dealt with the
person of Phorenice. She bade the bearers stand where they were, and
stepped out, and drew her weapons from beneath the cushions. She came
towards me strapping a sword on to her hip, and carrying a well-dinted
target of gold on her left forearm. "An unfair trick," cries she,
laughing. "If you will keep a fight to yourself now, Deucalion, where
will your greediness carry you when I am your shrinking, wistful little
wife? Are these fools truly going to stand up against us?"

I was not coveting a fight, but it seemed as if there would be no
avoidance of it now. The robe and the glittering gauds of which
Phorenice had recently despoiled the merchant, drew the eyes of thes