“It would be better, no doubt, that he should be as honest as the old skeleton I gave in exchange for him, but I reflect that even if my body-servant should make away with some of the few drachmae we carry about with us, I need not repent of having bought him, since I got him for many thousand drachmae less than he is worth, on account of his thefts, while a teacher for the children would have cost more than he can steal from us at the worst.  I will lock up the gold in the chest with my documents.  It is strong and could only be opened with a crow-bar.  Besides the fellow will have left off stealing at any rate at first, for his late master was none of the mildest and had cured him of his pilfering I should think, once for all.  It is lucky that in selling such rascals we should be compelled to state what their faults are; if the seller fails to do so compensation maybe claimed from him by the next owner for what he may lose.  Lykophron certainly concealed nothing, and setting aside his thieving propensities the Samian is said to be in every respect a capital fellow.”

But father,” replied Arsinoe, her anxiety once more urging her to speak, “it is a bad thing to have a dishonest man in the house.”

“You know nothing about it child!” answered Keraunus.  “To us to live and to be honest are the same thing, but a slave!—­King Antiochus is said to have declared that the man who wishes to be well served must employ none but rascals.”

When Arsinoe had been tempted out on to the balcony by her lover’s snatch of song and had been driven in again by her father, the steward had not reproved her in any way unkindly, but had stroked her cheeks and said with a smile:  “I rather fancy that lad of the gatekeeper’s—­whom I once turned out of doors has had his eye on you since you were chosen for Roxana.  Poor wretch!  But we have very different suitors in view for you my little girl.  How would it be, think you, if rich Plutarch had sent you those roses, not on his own behalf but as a greeting on the part of his son?  I know that he is very desirous of marrying him but the fastidious man has never yet thought any Alexandrian girl good enough for him.”

“I do not know him, and he does not think of a poor thing like me,” said Arsinoe.

“Do you think not?” asked Keraunus smiling.  “We are of as good family, nay of a better than Plutarch, and the fairest is a match for the wealthiest.  What would you say child to a long flowing purple robe and a chariot with white horses, and runners in front?”

At breakfast Keraunus drank two cups of strong wine, in which he allowed Arsinoe to mix only a few drops of water.  While his daughter was curling his hair a swallow flew into the room; this was a good omen and raised the steward’s spirits.  Dressed in his best and with a well-filled purse, he was on the point of starting for the council-chamber with his new slave when Sophilus the tailor and his girl-assistant were shown into the living-room.  The man begged to be allowed to try the dress, ordered for Roxana by the prefect’s wife, on the steward’s daughter.  Keraunus received him with much condescension and allowed him to bring in the slave who followed him with a large parcel of dresses,—­and Arsinoe, who was with the children, was called.