o abruptly; and in debating with himself upon the strange
doctrines which he had then for the first time heard broached.

It was about the second hour of the Roman day, corresponding nearly to
eight o'clock before noon--as the winter solstice was now passed--when
Arvina reached the magnificent dwelling of the Consul in the Carinae at the
angle of the Caerolian place, hard by the foot of the Sacred Way.

This splendid building occupied a whole _insula_, as it was called, or
space between four streets, intersecting each other at right angles; and
was three stories in height, the two upper supported by columns of marble,
with a long range of glass windows, at that period an unusual and
expensive luxury. The doors stood wide open; and on either hand the
vestibule were arranged the lictors leaning upon their fasces, while the
whole space of the great Corinthian hall within, lighted from above, and
adorned with vast black pillars of Lucullean marble, was crowded with the
white robes of the consul's plebeian clients tendering their morning
salutations; not unmixed with the crimson fringes and broad crimson
facings of senatorial visitors.

Many were there with gifts of all kinds; countrymen from his Sabine farm
and his Tusculan retreat, some bringing lambs; some cages full of doves;
cheeses, and bowls of fragrant honey; and robes of fine white linen the
produce of their daughters' looms; for whom perchance they were seeking
dowers at the munificence of their noble patron; artizans of the city,
with toys or pieces of furniture, lamps, writing cases, cups or vases of
rich workmanship; courtiers with manuscripts rarely illuminated, the work
of their most valuable slaves; travellers with gems, and bronzes,
offerings known to be esteemed beyond all others by the high-minded lover
of the arts, and unrivalled scholar, to whom they were presented.

These presents, after being duly exhibited to the patron himself, who was
seated at the farther end of the hall, concealed from the eyes of Paullus
by the intervening crowd, were consigned to the care of the various
slaves, or freedmen, who stood round their master, and borne away
according to their nature, to the storerooms and offices, or to the
library and gallery of the consul; while kind words and a courteous
greeting, and a consideration most ample and attentive even of the
smallest matters brought before him, awaited all who approached the
orator; whether he came empty handed, or fu