Again Pollux stood alone.

As Selene withdrew into the room, she gently shook her pale head, and said to herself: 

“‘It was to be for me,’ Pollux said; something for me, for once—­and even this pleasure is spoilt.”

CHAPTER IX.

The palace-steward, to whom Selene had called up his younger daughter, had just returned from the meeting of the citizens; and his old black slave, who always accompanied him 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 house.  Keraunus still looked heated, his eyes seemed more prominent than usual and large drops of sweat stood upon his brow, when his daughter entered the room where he was.  He absently responded to Arsinoe’s affectionate greeting with a few unmeaning words, and before making the important communication he had to disclose to his daughters, he walked up and down before them for some time, puffing out his fat cheeks and crossing his arms.  Selene was alarmed, and Arsinoe had long been out of patience, when at last he began: 

“Have you heard of the festivals which are to be held in Caesar’s honor?”

Selene nodded and her sister exclaimed: 

“Of course we have!  Have you secured places for us on the seats kept for the town council?”

“Do not interrupt me,” the steward crossly ordered his daughter.  “There is no question of staring at them.  All the citizens are required to allow their daughters to take part in the grand things that are to be carried out, and we all were asked how many girls we had.”

“And how are we to take part in the show?” cried Arsinoe, joyfully clapping her hands.

“I wanted to withdraw before the summons was proclaimed, but Tryphon, the shipwright, who has a workshop down by the King’s Harbor, held me back and called out to the assembly that his sons said that I had two pretty young daughters.  Pray how did he know that?”

With these words the steward lifted his grey brows and his face grew red to the roots of his hair.  Selene shrugged her shoulders, but Arsinoe said: 

“Tryphon’s shipyard lies just below and we often pass it; but we do not know him or his sons.  Have you ever seen them Selene?  At any rate it is polite of him to speak of us as pretty.”

“Nobody need trouble themselves about your appearance unless they want to ask my permission to marry you,” replied the steward with a growl.

“And what did you say to Tryphon?” asked Selene.

“I did as I was obliged.  Your father is steward of a palace which at present belongs to Rome and the Emperor; hence I must receive Hadrian as a guest in this, the dwelling of my fathers, and therefore I, less than any other citizen—­cannot withhold my share in the honors which the city council has decreed shall be paid to him.”