profusion.

Again I looked interrogatively at Agathemer. He responded as at the
commencement of our meal.

"I have a note here," he said, "which I was enjoined not to hand you until
after this fruit had been set upon your table."

He handed me the missive, the superscription of which was, to my
astonishment, in the handwriting of Satronius Dromo. While my fingers
tugged at the thread, Tanno commanded:

"Read it out loud at once, like the other. No secrets here. Let us all
in."

The letter began with all the traditional polite formalities, as had that
from Vedius. It read:

"Satronius Dromo to his valued friend Andivius Hedulio. If you are
well I am well also. I was writing at Villa Satronia on the day before
the Nones of June. Some days before I had written you expressing my
regret at the circumstances which prevented me from accepting your
most welcome invitation to dine with you on the Nones. I intended
dispatching to you, with this, what fruit my establishment has fit for
your acceptance, which I ask of you, this fruit being sent as an
earnest of my cordiality. When you are settled at Rome I beg that,
when perfectly convenient to you, you convey my warmest regards to my
cousin's widow, Vedia Venusta.

"Farewell."