“Go then,” cried the Greek after Publius as he hurried away.  “You will not allow me even thanks from the sweetest lips in Memphis.  Only look, Serapion, what a hurry he is in.  And now poor Eulaeus has to get up; a hippopotamus might learn from him how to do so with due awkwardness.  Well!  I call that making short work of it—­a Roman never asks before he takes; he has got all he wants and Eulaeus looks after him like a cow whose calf has been stolen from her; to be sure I myself would rather eat peaches than see them carried away!  Oh if only the people in the Forum could see him now!  Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, own grandson to the great Africanus, serving like a slave at a feast with a dish in each hand!  Well Publius, what has Rome the all conquering brought home this time in token of victory?”

“Sweet peaches and a roast pheasant,” said Cornelius laughing, and he handed two dishes into the anchorite’s window; “there is enough left still for the old man.”

“Thanks, many thanks!” cried Serapion, beckoning to Irene, and he gave her a golden-yellow cake of wheaten bread, half of the roast bird, already divided by Eulaeus, and two peaches, and whispered to her:  “Klea may come for the rest herself when these men are gone.  Now thank this kind gentleman and go.”

For an instant the girl stood transfixed, her face crimson with confusion and her glistening white teeth set in her nether lip, speechless, face to face with the young Roman and avoiding the earnest gaze of his black eyes.  Then she collected herself and said: 

“You are very kind.  I cannot make any pretty speeches, but I thank you most kindly.”

“And your very kind thanks,” replied Publius, “add to the delights of this delightful morning.  I should very much like to possess one of the violets out of your hair in remembrance of this day—­and of you.”

“Take them all,” exclaimed Irene, hastily taking the bunch from her hair and holding them out to the Roman; but before he could take them she drew back her hand and said with an air of importance: 

“The queen has had them in her hand.  My sister Klea got them yesterday in the procession.”

Scipio’s face grew grave at these words, and he asked with commanding brevity and sharpness: 

“Has your sister black hair and is she taller than you are, and did she wear a golden fillet in the procession?  Did she give you these flowers?  Yes—­do you say?  Well then, she had the bunch from me, but although she accepted them she seems to have taken very little pleasure in them, for what we value we do not give away—­so there they may go, far enough!”

With these words he flung the flowers over the house and then he went on: 

“But you, child, you shall be held guiltless of their loss.  Give me your pomegranate-flower, Lysias!”

“Certainly not,” replied the Greek.  “You chose to do pleasure to your friend Serapion in your own person when you kept me from going to fetch the peaches, and now I desire to offer this flower to the fair Irene with my own hand.”