“Attention!” shouted Martialis, firmly resolved to uphold the guardians of the peace, and not to suffer any harm to the matron and her fair companion; for Euryale’s husband was the brother of Seleukus, whom his father and father-in-law had served years ago, while in the villa at Kanopus his mother and wife were left in charge to keep it in order.  He felt that he was bound in duty to the merchant, and that all who were of that household had a right to count on his protection.  But no active measures were needed; a number of “Blues” had driven off the “Greens” who had tried to bar Alexander’s way, and the lictors came to their assistance.

A young man in festal array, who had pushed into the front rank of the bystanders, had looked on with panting breath.  He was very pale, and the thick wreath he wore was scarcely sufficient to hide the bandage under it.  This was Diodoros, Melissa’s lover.  After resting awhile at his friend’s house he had been carried in a litter to the amphitheatre, for he could yet hardly walk.  His father being one of the senators of the town, his family had a row of seats in the lowest and best tier; but this, on this occasion, was entirely given up to Caesar and his court.  Consequently the different members of the senate could have only half the usual number of seats.  Still, the son of Polybius might in any case claim two in his father’s name; and his friend Timon—­who had also provided him with suitable clothing—­had gone to procure the tickets from the curia.  They were to meet at the entrance leading to their places, and it would be some little time yet before Timon could return.

Diodoros had thought he would behold his imperial rival; however, instead of Caracalla he had seen the contemptuous reception which awaited Alexander and Melissa, from some at least of the populace.  Still, how fair and desirable had she seemed in his eyes, whom, only that morning, he had been blessed in calling his!  As he now moved away from the main entrance, he asked himself why it was such torture to him to witness the humiliation of a being who had done him such a wrong, and whom he thought he hated and scorned so utterly.  Hardly an hour since he had declared to Timon that he had rooted his love for Melissa out of his heart.  He himself would feel the better for using the whistle he wore, in derision of her, and for seeing her faithlessness punished by the crowd.  But now?  When the insolent uproar went up from the “Greens,” whose color he himself wore, he had found it difficult to refrain from rushing on the cowardly crew and knocking some of them down.