Now one of the artists pronounced her name, and as she ventured to raise her eyes to see if it were not Pollux who had spoken, she observed the wealthy Plutarch who, with his two living crutches and Gabinius, the lean curiosity-dealer, was inspecting the ranks of her companions.  Presently he had come quite close to her, and as he was helped towards her with tottering steps, he dug the dealer in the ribs and said, kissing the back of his hand, and winking his great eyes:  “I know—­I know!  It is not easily forgotten.  Ivory and red coral!”

Arsinoe started, the blood left her cheeks, and all satisfaction fled from her heart when the old man came to a stand-still in front of her, and said kindly: 

“Ah! ah! a bud out of the papyrus factory among all these proud roses and lilies.  Ah! ah! out of my work-rooms to join my assembly!  Never mind-never mind, beauty is everywhere welcome.  I do not ask how you got here.  I am only glad that you are here.”

Arsinoe covered part of her face with her hand, but he tapped her white arm three times with his middle finger, and then tottered on laughing to himself.  The dealer had caught Plutarch’s words, and asked him, when they had gone a few steps from Arsinoe, with eager indignation: 

“Did I hear you rightly? a work-woman in your factory, and here among our daughters?”

“So it is—­two busy hands among so many idle ones,” said the old man, gaily.

“Then she must have forced her way in, and must be turned out.”

“Certainly she shall not—­Why, she is charming.”

“It is revolting! here, in this assembly!”

“Revolting?” interrupted Plutarch.  “Oh dear, no! we must not be too particular.  And how are we to obtain mere children from you antiquity-mongers?” Then he added pleasantly: 

“This lovely creature must I should think, delight your fine sense of beauty; or are you afraid that she may seem better suited to the part of Roxana than your own charming daughter?  Only listen to the men up there!  Let us see what is going on.”

These words referred to a loud discussion which had arisen close by the couches of the prefect and Verus, the praetor.  They, and with them most of the painters and sculptors present, were of opinion that Arsinoe would be a wonderfully effective Roxana; they maintained that her face and figure answered perfectly to those of the Bactrian princes as they were represented by Action, whose picture was, to a certain extent, to serve as the basis of the living group.  Only Papias and two of his fellow-artists, declared against this choice, and eagerly asserted that among all the damsels present one, and one alone, was worthy to appear before the Emperor as Alexander’s bride, and that one was Praxilla, the daughter of Gabinius.  All three were in close business relations with the father of the young girl, who was tall, and slim, and certainly very lovely, and they wanted to do a pleasure to the rich and knowing purchaser.  Their zeal even assumed a tone of vehemence, when the dealer, following in the wake of Plutarch, joined the group of disputants, and they were certain of being heard by him.