prepare her.

The sun was declining, more than half its course had run, when Varro and
Nika left the house. Once fairly under way, they soon arrived at the
scene of carnage.

The Proconsul entered, and moved to his seat of honour; by his side sat
his betrothed. Venusta was also there, and was surprised to see her
daughter. A few words of explanation soon put matters right, and they
settled down to enjoy the competitions.

The day was sultry, but streams of water rippled along by the
gorgeously-decked dais of the Proconsul, and statue fountains on either
hand at intervals poured out delicious perfumes, cooling the air, and
making it fragrant as an orange grove when the trees are laden with
blossoms.

In a place of honour set aside for her sat the High Priestess of the
Temple of Diana. Over her head was a canopy of gold, and great masses of
fragrant flowers were piled up in tiers behind her.

She wore a dress of silk dazzling in whiteness, with stars of gold. On
her head rested a jewelled crown, and her forehead blazed with the
diamond moon crescent. Her face was severely beautiful; her eyes were
fixed gazing into illimitable space, bearing an expression akin to
pain, plainly telling she was there in her official capacity and found
no enjoyment.

Two attendant priestesses stood by with fans of richest make; another
held the insignia of the High Priestess, whilst many others, all
beautiful girls of Ionia, waited for her whispered bidding.

The eyes of the noble-born Roman Nika instinctively wandered in the
direction of the priestess, and were riveted on the sublime splendour of
Saronia.

Nika feared, yet desired, to exchange glances. She was strangely
fascinated, but the woman she hated with such deadly hate saw her not,
or appeared to be ignorant of her presence.

This aroused a deeper feeling in the daughter of Lucius, and she
disliked Saronia more intensely. But for fear of those dark, mysterious
eyes she would have by this time been using her as a point for
criticism.

The Proconsul wondered why she was so silent, and ventured to say:

'Seest thou the great Saronia? Is she not a mighty being? And fancy,
she, above all others, the saviour of the life of Chios! What a glorious
thing is power, and charity to use it!'

Then for the first time did she speak of her, saying:

'Art thou too in love?'

'Dearest Nika, explain.'

'Explain? I mean what I say. The brilliancy of Saronia dazzles, shall I
say, un