"Yet he asked thee to look after his household."
"It will take a little time until the manumissio testamento can take effect. In the meanwhile we all are Taurus Antinor's slaves and must look after his houses until they have been sold."
"Wilt be happy as a freedman, Folces?"
"Yes, Augusta," replied the man simply, "for then I shall be at liberty to follow Taurus Antinor as his servant."
She sat quite silently after this, her tear-stained eyes fixed into vacancy. Folces was on his knees waiting to be dismissed. It was some little while before she remembered his presence, then in a gentle voice she bade him go.
"Shall I take a message back to my master?" he asked humbly. "I could find him, I think, if I had a message."
"I have no message," she said; "go, good Folces."