down from his watchtower."

"I cannot invent or think of any thing."

"Nothing?" asked Verus, going close tip to the Bithynian. "You just now
gave striking proof to the contrary."

Antinous turned pale and the praetor went on:

"When you wanted to rescue the fair Selene from the lictors your swift
invention threw her into the sea!"

"She did throw herself in, as truly as that the gods--"

"Stay, stay," cried the praetor. "No perjury, at least! Selene is
living, you send her flowers, and if I should think proper to conduct
Hadrian to the house of Paulina--"

"Oh!" cried Antinous lamentably enough, and grasping the Roman's hand.
"You will not--you can not. Oh Verus! you will not do that."

"Simpleton," laughed the praetor, slapping the alarmed youth lightly on
the shoulder. "What good could it do me to ruin you? I have only one
thing at heart just now, and that is to save Caesar from care and
anxiety. Keep him occupied only during the third hour after midnight and
you may count on my friendship; but if out of fear or ill-will you refuse
me your assistance you do not deserve your sovereign's favor and then you
will compel me--"

"No more, no more!" cried Antinous interrupting his tormentor in despair.