us decide on the persons and afterwards on the costumes. The father of
the girl is a Roman citizen then?"

"A member of the council, and in his way a man of position," replied
Titianus.

"And I," added his wife Julia, "have taken a great fancy to the sweet
little maid, and if the principal part is given to her, and her noble
father is without adequate means, as you assert my friend, I will
undertake to provide for her costume. Caesar will be charmed with
such a Roxana."

The dealer's clients were silent, he himself was trembling with
disappointment and vexation, and his fury rose to the utmost when
Plutarch, whom till then he thought he had won over to his daughter's
side, tried to bow his bent old body before dame Julia, and said with a
graceful gesture of regret:

"My old eyes have deceived me again on this occasion. The little girl
is very like one of my workwomen; very like--but I see now that there is
a certain something which the other lacks. I have done her an injustice
and remain her debtor. Permit, me, noble lady to add the ornaments to
the dress you provide for our Roxana. I may be lucky enough to find
something pretty for her. A sweet child! I shall go at once and beg her
forgiveness and tell her what we propose. May I do so noble Julia? Have
I your permission gentlemen?"

In a very few minutes it was known all over the stage, and soon after all
through the amphitheatre, that Arsinoe, the daughter of Keraunus, had
been selected to represent the character of Roxana.