By the harbor he met the captain of the boat he had hired; to him he held up two fingers, and the boatman signified by repeated nodding that he had understood the meaning of this signal:  “Be ready at two hours before midnight.”

The sight of this weather-beaten pilot, and the prospect of making some return to his noble friends for all their kindness, cheered Orion greatly; and though he regretted being obliged to leave these guests of all others, the perils that lay before him reasserted their charm.  He could surely win over the abbess in the course of the voyage, and Paula might be brought to reason, perhaps, this very evening.  Justinus and his wife were Melchites, and he knew that both these friends—­for whom he had a particular regard—­would be enchanted with his scheme if he took them into his confidence.

The inn kept by Sostratus, a large, square building surrounding a spacious court-yard, was the best and most frequented in the town.  The eastern side faced the road and the river, and contained the best rooms, in which, on the previous night, the senator had established himself with his wife and servants.  The clatter of the quadriga drew Justinus to the window; as soon as he recognized Orion he waved a table-napkin to him, shouting a hearty “Welcome!” and then retired into the room again.

“Here he is!” he cried to his wife, who was lying on a couch in the lightest permissible attire, and sipping fruit-syrup from time to time to moisten her dry lips, while a boy fanned her for coolness.

“That is well indeed!” she exclaimed, and desired her maid to be quick, very quick, and fetch her a wrap, but to be sure it was a thin one.  Then, turning to a very lovely young woman who had started to her feet at Justinus’ first exclamation, she asked: 

“Would you rather that he should find you here, my darling, or shall we see him first, and tell him that we have brought you with us?”

“That will be best,” answered the other in a sweet voice, and she sighed softly before she added:  “What will he not think of me?  We may grow older, but folly—­folly. . .”

“Grows with years?” laughed the matron.  “Or do you think it decreases?—­But here he is.”

The younger woman hurried away by a side door, behind which she disappeared.  Martina looked after her, and pointing that way to direct her husband’s glance, she observed:  “She has left herself a chink.  Good God!  Fancy being in love in such heat as this; what a hideous thought!”

At this moment the door was opened, and the heartiest greetings ensued.  It was evident that the meeting was as great a pleasure to the elderly pair as to the young man.  Justinus embraced him warmly, while the matron cried out:  “And a kiss for me too!” And when the youth immediately and heartily gave it, she exclaimed with a groan: