“A barbarous structure!” he said bitterly.  “The art of the Egyptians has long been numbered with the dead and the tiger hungers only for the living!”

“Nay, it is not such a bad piece of work,” replied the steward, “but it is out of their reach; for the ground on which it stands belongs to my old mistress, and the law protects private property.—­You must at your leisure inspect the ship-yard here; it is perhaps the most extensive in the world.  The timber that is piled there—­cedar of Lebanon, oak from Pontus and heavy iron-wood from Ethiopia—­is worth hundreds of talents.”

“And does all that belong to your master?”

“No; the owner is the grandson of a freedman, formerly in his family.  Now they are very rich and highly respected, and Master Clemens sits in the Senate.  There he is—­that man in a white robe.”

“A Christian, I should imagine,” observed the singer.

“Very true;” replied the steward.  “But what is good remains good, and he is a worthy and excellent man notwithstanding.  He keeps a tight hand over the ship-yard here and over the others too by the harbor of Eunostus.  Only Clemens can never let other people have their own opinions; in that he is just like the rest of them.  Every slave he buys must become a Christian and his sons are the same; even Constantine, though he is an officer in the imperial army and as smart and clever a soldier as lives.—­As far as we are concerned we leave every man to his own beliefs.  Porphyrius makes no secret of his views and all the vessels we use in the corn-trade are built by Christians.—­But here we are.”

The boat stopped at a broad flight of marble steps which led from the lake into the garden of Porphyrius’ house.  Karnis as he walked through the grounds felt himself at greater ease, for here the old gods were at home; their statues gleamed among the dark clumps of evergreens, and were mirrored in the clear tanks, while delicious perfumes were wafted from the garlanded shrines and freshly anointed altars, to greet the newcomers.

CHAPTER III.

The family of musicians were kindly received, but they were not immediately called upon to perform, for as soon as Damia heard that the pretty fair-haired child who had pleased her so much the day before had been obliged to remain at home, she had one of her granddaughter’s dresses brought out, and requested Herse to go back to fetch her.  Some slaves were to accompany Herse and transfer all her little property on board a Nile-boat belonging to Porphyrius, which was lying at anchor just off the ship-yard.  In this large barge there were several cabins which had often accommodated guests, and which would now serve very well as a residence for Karnis and his party.  Indeed, it was particularly well suited for a family of musicians, for they could practise there undisturbed, and Gorgo could at any time pay them a visit.