"Call him back, Titianus," said he. "We disturbed him in the midst of
curling his hair; only one side was done when the lictor called him away,
and I will wager my own head that he will have the other side frizzled
before he comes back. I know your true Greek!"

"Well, let him," answered Titianus. "If you have taken his measure
rightly he will not be able to give his attention without reserve to our
questions till the other half of his hair is curled. I know, too, how to
deal with a Hellene."

"Better than I, I perceive," said the architect in a tone of conviction.
"A statesman is used to deal with men as we do with lifeless materials.
Did you see the fat fellow turn pale when you said that it would be but a
few days before the Emperor would make his entry here? Things must look
well in the old house there. Every hour is precious, and we have
lingered here too long."

The prefect nodded agreement and followed the architect into the inner
court of the palace. How grand and well-proportioned was the plan of
this immense building through which the steward Keraunus, who returned
with his fine curls complete all round, now led the Romans. It stood on
an artificial hill in the midst of the peninsula of Lochias, and from
many a window and many a balcony there were lovely prospects of the
streets and open squares, the houses, palaces and public buildings of the
metropolis, and of the harbor, swarming with ships. The outlook from
Lochias was rich, gay and varied to the south and west, but east and
north from the platform of the palace of the Ptolemies, the gaze fell on
the never-wearying prospect of the eternal sea, limited only by the vault
of heaven. When Hadrian had sent a special messenger from Mount Kasius
to desire his prefect Titianus to have this particular building prepared