every means at hand. For the sake of that he had already done many
things which he regretted, and the man who steals one sheep out of the
flock is followed by others without intending it. The first degrading
action that a man commits is sure to be followed by a second and a third.
What Verus was now projecting he regarded as being a simple act of self-
defence; and after all, it consisted merely in detaining Hadrian for an
hour, interrupting him in an idle occupation--the observation of the
stars.

There were two men who might be helpful to him in this matter--Antinous
and the slave Mastor. He first thought of Mastor; but the Sarmatian was
faithfully devoted to his master and could not be bribed. And besides!--
No! it really was too far beneath him to make common cause with a slave.
But he could count even less on support from Antinous. Sabina hated her
husband's favorite, and for her sake Verus had never met the young
Bithynian on particularly friendly terms. He fancied, too, that he had
observed that the quiet, dreamy lad kept out of his way. It was only by
intimidation, probably, that the favorite could be induced to do him a
service.

At any rate, the first thing to be done was to visit Lochias and there to
keep a lookout with his eyes wide open. If the Emperor were in a happy
frame of mind he might, perhaps, be induced to appear during the latter
part of the night at the banquet which Verus was giving on the eve of his
birthday, and at which all that was beautiful to the eye and ear was to
be seen and heard; or a thousand favoring and helpful accidents might
occur--and at any rate the Rabbi's forecast furnished him good fortune
for the next few years.

As he dismounted from his chariot in the newly-paved forecourt and was