ly; the Empress herself acknowledged me as her husband that was to
be; and all that curled and jewelled throng of courtiers hailed me as
greater than themselves, by reason of this woman's choice. There was
method, too, in their salutation. Some rumour must have got about of my
preference for the older and simpler habits, and there was no drinking
wine to my health after the new and (as I considered) impertinent
manner. Decorously, each lord and lady there came forward, and each in
turn spilt a goblet at my feet; and when I called any up, whether man
or woman, to receive tit-bits from my platter, it was eaten simply and
thankfully, and not kissed or pocketed with any extravagant gesture.

The flaring jets of earth-breath showed me, too, so I thought, a plainer
habit of dress, and a more sober mien amongst this thoughtless mob
of banqueters. And, indeed, it must have been plain to notice, for
Phorenice, leaning over till the ruddy curls on her shoulder brushed
my face, chided me in a playful whisper as having usurped her high
authority already.

"Oh, sir," she pleaded mockingly, "do not make your rule over us too
ascetic. I have given no orders for this change, but to-night there are
no perfumes in the air; the food is so plain and I have half a mind to
burn the cook; and as for the clothes and gauds of these diners, by my
face! they might have come straight from the old King's reign before I
stepped in here to show how tasteful could be colours on a robe, or how
pretty the glint of a jewel. It's done by no orders of mine, Deucalion.
They have swung round to this change by sheer courtier instinct. Why,
look at the beards of the men! There is not half the curl about many of
them to-day that they showed with such exquisiteness yesterday. By my
face! I believe they'd reap their chins to-morrow as smooth as yours,
if you go on setting the fashions at this prodigious rate and I do not
interfere."

"Why hinder them if they feel more cleanly shaven?"

"No, sir. There shall be only one clean chin where a beard can grow in
all Atlantis, and that shall be carried by the man who is husband to the
Empress. Why, my Deucalion, would you have no sumptuary laws? Would you
have these good folk here and the common people outside imitate us in
every cut of the hair and every fold of a garment which it pleases us to
discover? Come, sir, if you and I chose to say that our sovereignty was
marked only by our superior strength of arm and wit,