workshop of Aphrodite.'

'Recollect that you are a Christian,' answered Hypatia, half
smiling.

So the prefect departed; and passing through the outer hall, which
was already crowded with Hypatia's aristocratic pupils and visitors,
bowed his way out past them and regained his chariot, chuckling over
the rebuff which he intended to administer to Cyril, and comforting
himself with the only text of Scripture of the inspiration of which
he was thoroughly convinced--'Sufficient for the day is the evil
thereof.'

At the door was a crowd of chariots, slaves with their masters'
parasols, and the rabble of onlooking boys and market-folk, as usual
in Alexandria then, as in all great cities since, who were staring
at the prefect, and having their heads rapped by his guards, and
wondering what sort of glorious personage Hypatia might be, and what
sort of glorious house she must live in, to be fit company for the
great governor of Alexandria. Not that there was not many a sulky
and lowering face among the mob, for the great majority of them were
Christians, and very seditious and turbulent politicians, as
Alexandrians, 'men of Macedonia,' were bound to be; and there was
many a grumble among them, all but audible, at the prefect's going
in state to the heathen woman's house--heathen sorceress, some pious
old woman called her--before he heard any poor soul's petition in
the tribunal, or even said his prayers in church.

Just as he was stepping into his curricle a tall young man, as
gorgeously bedizened as himself, lounged down the steps after him,