“Good luck to you, Master,” old Doris called out to the prefect.

“We come late,” said Hadrian.

“That does not matter,” said the old woman.  “Here at Lochias for the last week we have quite forgotten to distinguish day from night, and a blessing can never come too late.”

“I have brought with me to-day an illustrious guest,” said Titianus.  “The great Roman architect Claudius Venator.  He only disembarked a few minutes since.”

“Then a draught of wine will do him good.  We have in the house some good white Mareotic from my daughter’s garden by the lake.  If your friend will do us humble folks so much honor, I beg he will step into our room; it is clean, is it not sir? and the cup I will give him to drink it out of would not disgrace the Emperor himself.  Who knows what you will find up in the midst of all the muddle yonder?”

“I will accept your invitation with pleasure,” answered Hadrian.  “I can see by your face that you have a pleasure in entertaining us, and any one might envy you your little house.”

“When the climbing-rose and the honey-suckle are out it is much prettier,” said Doris, as she filled the cup.  “Here is some water for mixing.”

The Emperor took the cup carved by Pollux, looked at it with admiration, and before putting it to his lips said: 

“A masterpiece, dame; what would Caesar find to drink out of here where the gate-keeper uses such a treasure?  Who executed this admirable work, pray?”

“My son carved it for me in his spare time.”

“He is a highly-skilled sculptor,” Titianus explained.

When the Emperor had half emptied the cup with much satisfaction he set it on the table, and said: 

“A very noble drink!  I thank you, mother.”

“And I you, for styling me mother:  there is no better title a woman can have who has brought up good children; and I have three who need never be ashamed to be seen.”

“I wish you all luck with them, good little mother,” replied the Emperor.

“We shall meet again, for I am going to spend some days at Lochias.”

“Now, in all this bustle?” asked Doris.

“This great architect,” said Titianus, in explanation, “is to advise and help our Pontius.”

“He needs no help!” cried the old woman.  “He is a man of the best stamp.  His foresight and energy, my son says, are incomparable.  I have seen him giving his orders myself, and I know a man when I see him!”

“And what particularly pleased you in him?” asked Hadrian, who was much amused with the shrewd old woman’s freedom.

“He never for a moment loses his temper in all the hurry, never speaks a word too much or too little; he can be stern when it is necessary, but he is kind to his inferiors.  What his merits are as an artist I am not capable of judging, but I am quite certain that he is a just and able man.”

“I know him myself,” replied Caesar, “and you describe him rightly; but he seemed to me sterner than he has shown himself to you.”