The chamberlain withdrew at once, and the emperor throwing himself back
on the throne, continued, with a sigh:

"I wonder how any of these rich tradesmen would like to undertake what I
have already gone through this day. First, the bath; then, while I
rested, Macrinus's report; after that, the inspection of the sacrifices;
then a review of the troops, with a gracious word to every one. Scarcely
returned, I had to receive the ambassadors from my mother, and then came
the troublesome affair with Vindex. Then the dispatches from Rome
arrived, the letters to be examined, and each one to be decided on and
signed. Finally the settling of accounts with the idiologos, who, as
high-priest of my choosing, has to collect the tribute from all the
temples in Egypt. . . . Next I gave audience to several people--to
your father among the rest. He is strange, but a thorough man, and a
true Macedonian of the old stock. He repelled both greeting and
presents, but he longed to be revenged--heavily and bloodily--on Zminis,
who denounced him and brought him to the galleys. . . . How the old
fellow must have raged and stormed when he was a prisoner! I treated the
droll old gray-beard like my father. The giant pleases me, and what
skillful fingers he has on his powerful hands! He gave me that ring with
the portraits of Castor and Pollux."

"My brothers were the models," remarked Melissa, glad to find something
to say without dissembling.

Caracalla examined the stone in the gold ring more closely, and exclaimed
in admiration: "How delicate the little heads are! At the first glance
one recognizes the hand of the happily gifted artist. Your father's is
one of the noblest and most refined of the arts. If I can raise a statue