The Emperor, Complete

when he went out, took the saffron-colored pallium from his shoulders, and from his head the golden circlet, with which he loved to crown his curled hair when he quitted the

communication he had to disclose to his daughters, he walked up and down before them for some time, puffing out his f

estivals which are to be

and her sist

ecured places for us on the se

staring at them. All the citizens are required to allow their daughters to take part in

in the show?" cried Arsinoe

ho has a workshop down by the King's Harbor, held me back and called out to the assembl

s and his face grew red to the roots of his hair.

we do not know him or his sons. Have you ever seen them Sele

earance unless they want to ask my permission

u say to Tryphon

hence I must receive Hadrian as a guest in this, the dwelling of my fathers, and therefore I, less than any

e him a coaxing pat. But Keraunus was not in the humor to accept caresse

lt to Caesar, to whom in fact I feel very well disposed. All this I had to consider, and I gave your names and promised to send you to the great Theatre to the assembly of young girls. The

lves in such an assembly in our common garments, a

white woollen dresses, prettily smartened with fresh ribbons,"

umes! It is only the daughters of the poorer citizens who will be paid by the council,

ocession," said Selene resolute

most powerful Romans of ancient times, regarded it as honorable to die poor. Our

f feeling in you. Even the noble may submit to the misfortunes entailed by poverty, but the ad

from another, which seemed new to him, and which nevertheless fully represented what he felt; and he slowly sank, w

though the whole hall had a carefully-laid pavement, in this recess there was a mosaic of stones of various colors of such beauty and delicacy of finish that Keraunus had always forbidden his children to step upon it. This, it is true, was less out of regard for the fine

juice of the grape with a judicious measure of water. After he had half dr

r dresses will cost if it is to be in no

id Arsinoe

s, the tailor, who is working for the theatre, tells

gance," cried Selene. "We have no money, and I shou

s betrayed what she felt. Keraunus was rejoiced at the silent consent which Arsinoe seemed to accord to his desire to let

to me; you have accustomed yourself to it with the children and to them you may continue to use it. Fourteen hundred drachmae certainly, at the first thought of it, se

-not a quarter! And even if you turn me out of the house-I will not help to

not without an infusion of satisfaction. He was accustomed to love his daughters in his own way, Selene as the useful one, and Arsinoe as the beaut

the score of weak health, and certainly, child, you do look extrem

inoe's cheeks, but Selene's lips were as whi

cher has had a coin paid him for the last two mont

. The richest of our noble youths will take part in the games; Arsinoe is handsome and perhaps one of them may choose her for his wife. And do you

annot know of it," cried

in the cup board there, and stands on the cornice shelf? For your sakes I will part

rupted, ruthlessly. "All my grandfather's re

ue to our rank," answered Keraunus; "but I

hink of th

was convinced that it had been painted by Apelles himself herein Alexandria. You shall know at once what these little things are worth, for, as the gods vouchsafed, on my way home I met, here in the palace, Gabinius of Nicaea, the dealer in such objects. He promised me that when he had done his busines

girl, shrugging her shoulde

ed belonged to Caesar, and if he gives you a go

ave other things, many others. Hark! that is Gabinius, no doubt. Quick, Selene, throw the chiton round me again. My chaplet, Arsinoe. A well-to-

had nothing to gain. In circumstances where there was profit in view, he could, to be sure, be polite even to subservience and show inexhaustible patience. He commanded himself so far as to listen with an air of conviction to the steward as he told him in a condescending tone that he was tired of his little possessions, that he could just as well keep them as part with them; he merely wanted to show them to him as a connoisseur

piece of property had passed thr

do you thi

ntly, the end almost in fear, for the dealer onl

worth speaking of. I advise you to keep them, because you have

ler's lips; but Arsinoe, who had followed his movements with no less attention, was less easily dis

oking his gray whiskers. "But we have here only a very feeble copy. The original is in the Villa belongin

mong the possessions of Plutarch, as I can prove, and

ction," replied Gabinius; "but it is amp

as trembling with agitation and pushed instead of lifting it from the table. It rolled away on the floor and across the smooth mosaic

ot; the physician s

than to get up again, for some minutes had elapsed before he once more stood on his feet, in front of Keraunus. His countenance had put on an expression of eager attention, and he once

t some fresh and unique beauty. As the dealer sat there for some minutes with the little picture on his knee, the steward'

the Apelles cheap-r

ects lying on the table and said in a much sh

y-seventy-four hundred-four hundred and fifty-I can give

king," crie

ake anything, but you as a business man will understand that I do not

el

line of business leads me to admire and value all that is beautiful, but still I must request you to leave me alone with your father for a little while. I want to speak

ask you to send me as bright a ligh

he picture?"

ht let us talk of someth

Keraunus. "You will be doing me a pl

n were seated on the

o some property after he has sold all his little antiquities has offered me ten times the price I have paid him to get them back again, generally in vain, u

n the steward, but the dea

ter than I, for I-I must confess-have large means at my command. Just at pres

imed the steward. "It is yours i

he placed it, while he murmured to Keraunus, "By your leave," down on the centre of the mosaic. The steward looked at the man on his left hand, with puzzled inquiry

t anything?"

I am satisfied. Shall I place the lamp there,

it is a question not of drachmae but of Attic talents."-[ The Attic ta

ffer you five; that is to say a sum for w

eart thumped violently; but presently be so far controlled himself as to be able to answer. This time at

will not do;

et us s

ouble that we

alents; why, for that sum you

out for

o, but not a s

ork of art," sighed Keraunus. "But I will

he possession of it. It is another work of art in this room that I wish to have, and which has hitherto seemed to you

know wha

g in this room

should it

dispose of it

oubt

nts which I offer you are to be paid f

at? It belongs

e than a century by your forefathers. I know the law; it pronounces that everything which has

belongs to

egral portion of your family dwellin

gs to the

y son, later in the day I will take up the picture, pack it, and when it grows dark, carry it away. Procure a carpet to cover the em

s time in a louder voice, "Do you hear? it belongs to the

and forehead dyed purple, and his fist, which he held in the dea

not have the

my sight, villain, and let me hear not another word about the picture, and the robbery in the dark

round once more to the groaning and gasping colo

e shall have more to

r breathing hard and sitting on the couch, with his head drooping forward.

water!-the thief

to borrow it, aye, or twice the sum, from rich or poor, though he knew full certainly that he would never be in a position to restore it. Nor was he even proud of what he had do

or Arsinoe's outfit? how could he k

he precious mosaic picture which had been discovered in his abode, to Titianus for the Emperor, but he did not bring his composition to an end, for he became