promontory. The road taken was broad and smooth, and on the left hand
lined from bottom to top with pine trees, some of which are yet
standing.

The summit had been a place of interest time out of mind. From its woody
cover, the first inhabitants beheld the Argonauts anchor off the town of
Amycus, king of the Bebryces; there the vengeful Medea practised her
incantations; and descending to acknowledged history, it were long
telling the notable events of the ages landmarked by the hoary height.
When the builder of the palace below threw his scheme of improvement
over the brow of the hill, he constructed water basins on different
levels, surrounding them with raised walls artistically sculptured;
between the basins he pitched marble pavilions, looking in the distance
like airy domes on a Cyclopean temple; then he drew the work together by
a tesselated pavement identical with the floor of the house of Caesar
hard by the Forum in Rome.

Giving little heed to the other guests in occupancy of the summit, the
attendants of the Princess broke into parties sight seeing; while she
called Sergius to her, and conducted him to a point commanding the
Bosphorus for leagues. A favorite lookout, in fact, the spot had been
provided with a pavement and a capacious chair cut from a block of the
coarse brown limestone native to the locality. There she took seat, and
the ascent, though all in shade, having been wearisome, she was glad of
the blowing of the fresh upper air.

From a place in the rear Sergius had witnessed the progress to the
present halt. Every incident and demonstration had been in his view and
hearing. The expressions of affection showered upon the Princess were
delightful to him; they seemed so spontaneous and genuine. As testimony