The Emperor, Complete

ence on the Bruchiom, and he paused there; for the letter which lay hidden in the folds of his toga, contained new

to receive his orders, he went straight through the ante-room and the large public rooms for men, to find his wife in the women's apartm

asure. "How pleasant that you have been released so ea

ou are right, I was with Sabina a shorter time than usual; but she exerted herself in that short time to utter as many sour words as if we had been talking for half a day. And in five minutes I must

s wife handed him the refreshment he had asked for,

en determined after all t

me Caesar's letter once more. Here it is." Julia unfol

ttle harbor, and you will know my ship by a large silver star at the prow. If night should fall before I arrive there, three red lanterns at the end of the mast shall inform you of the friend that is approaching. I have sent home the learned and witty men whom you sent to meet me, in order to detain me, and gain time for the restoration of the old nest in which I had a fancy to roost with Minerva's birds-which have not, I hope, all been driven out of it-in order that Sabina and her following may not lack entertainment, nor the famous gentlemen themselves be unnecessarily disturbed in t

e earth, and, if need be, can sleep as well on a mat as on a couch. My pillow follows at my heels-my big dog, which

ever besought a favor-let the least suspicion of my arrival be known. Nor must the smallest preparation betray whom

enator from Rome, who is to assist Pontius with his advice. But this Pontius, who carried out such fine works for Herodes Atticus, the rich Sophist, met me at his house, and will certainly recognize me. Tell him, therefore, w

ing the letter from his wife's hand. "Is it not more

e. As matters now stand it need not be complete, and Hadrian will see the good intention all the same. I

r I can await Caesar with a much lighter heart. Let me lock up the letter, and then

his hand. She held

st confess to you t

every ri

aid a word to me ab

-still, to be sure, you are a woma

dmother, wit

charming than a thousand of the

nvert my pride into v

na had lamented that handsome Julia was not looking well. But where is there another woman of your age with su

imed his wife. "Y

s a Roman, as my wife is, can find it so easy to

re different f

ur children have left us, it is a

le of discor

st that man is most prompt to be je

ead and hurried towards the door

food every day down to the architect at Lochias, a

d; d

well,

, when it shall please t

........

appointed spot, no vessel wit

no ship with three red

t Lochias, and he thought it quite intelligible that the governor should do a strange artist the honor of coming to meet him; for the whole city was well aware of

mother in the pretty little gate-house. Well disposed towards them as he felt, he sent at once to old Doris,

nstructed the messenger, "that I may very likely look in upon

ghtest suspicion of the honor

been at work for about an hour the sculptor Pollux came out of his nook, st

thing new. One cures me of fatigue as

direct the work of the slave-masons, who were fixing a new Cori

ust long since have completed his preparations; but the rascal came into the world with two left-hands, and as he squints with one eye everything that is straight looks crooked to him, and-according to the law of optics-the oblique looks straight. At any rate, he drove the peg which is to sup

ontius. "From the secret archives of my m

es

you li

y mu

e hall, he waved his left-hand to the architect, and with his right-h

s balcony, and the only reason why he had parted with the portrait of Selene's mother, of which he was so fond, was that his playfellow might gaze at the face whenever she chose. He found, however, to his satisfaction, that the busts were held in their places

y years left solitary and silent, attracted an inquirer, who, soon after the apprentice had begun his work, had shown herself on the balcony, but who had soon retreated after casting a glance at the dirty lad, splas

to preserve it from the marks of workmen's hands. With a deep breath the artist

It really is tall Po

loudly clapped her hands; and as the sc

at him pleasantly, and laughed out: "I have not done growing yet; but as for you, you look quite dignified with the beard

mutes every new thing that strikes the eyes or the intelligence, into a romance, or rapidly embodies it in verse; and Pollux, l

om her brow as if they were still floating on the water; and now as she stoops, how full and supple in every movement. It is like a daughter of Nereus following the line of the as the waves as they rise into crests and dip again into watery valleys. Sh

few seconds, but the girl found her speechless adm

e any proper greeting. What

ng the cloth from the portrait

d her eyes with her hand and was silent for more than a m

her!" She flew into

comfort," thought Pollux, as he pushed the heavy marble bu

unus dare not touch the Emperor's property." He crossed hi

mere rags; we are upholsterers and not artists. If it were only for Hadrian, an

e more than a minute from Arsinoe's disappearance from the balcony she was by his side. With a heightened color she pushed the sculptor away from h

t from the presence of the artist, or the laborers and slaves whom she had flown

s light-hearted child, and he could not help reflecting that goodness was indeed well rewarded when it co

sculptor's work Arsinoe grew calm

ou mak

replied, l

rely from

be s

u know

el

Adonis was right when she sang in the Jalemus

e seething in his heart, and he gratefully seized her hand; but she drew it

Pollux had set his work in this place, but, just now, h

" he called up to the balcony in an e

look at it presently more closely. Come

llux sto

room, she gently shook her p

aid; something for me, for once-