amateurs of horse-racing who assembled in the Hippodrome could
afford no clue to Dada's hiding-place, because she had not, in fact,
run away with any gay young gallant. Within a few minutes of her sending
Sachepris to fetch her a pair of shoes, Medius had hailed her from the
shore; he wanted to speak with Karnis, and having come on an ass it was
not in vain that the incensed damsel entreated him to take her with him.
He had in fact only come to try to persuade Karnis and his wife to spare
Dada for a few performances, such as he had described, in the house of
Posidonius. His hopes of success had been but slender; and now the whole
thing had settled itself, and Dada's wish that her people should not,
for a while, know where to find her was most opportune for his plans.

In the days when Karnis was the manager of the theatre at Tauromenium
Medius had led the chorus, and had received much kindness at the hands
of the girl's uncle. All this, he thought, he could now repay, for
certainly his old patron was poor enough, and he intended honestly to
share with his former benefactor the profits he expected to realize
with so fair a prodigy as Dada. No harm could come to the girl,
and gold--said he to himself--glitters as brightly and is just as
serviceable, even when it has been earned for us against our will.

Medius, being a cautious man, made the girl bring her new dress away
with her, and the girdle and jewels belonging to it, and his neat hands
packed everything into the smallest compass. He filled up the basket
which he took for the purpose with sweetmeats, oranges and pomegranates
"for the children at home," and easily consoled Dada for the loss of her
shoes. He would lead the ass and she should ride. She covered her face
with a veil, and her little feet could be hidden under her dress. When
they reached his house he would at once have "a sweet little pair of
sandals" made for her by the shoemaker who worked for the wife of the
Comes and the daughters of the Alabarch--[The chief of the Jewish
colony in Alexandria.]--These preparations and the start only took a few
minutes; and their rapid search and broken conversation caused so much
absurd confusion that Dada had quite recovered her spirits and laughed
merrily as she tripped bare-foot across the strand. She sprang gaily
on to the little donkey and as they made their way along the road, the
basket containing her small wardrobe placed in front of her on the ass's
shoulders