He did not finish the sentence, and gazed languidly out of the window.
"What am I to do?" replied Hortensius. "A spoiled child ... an orphan; no father, no mother! As her mere tutor, I can't well deny her anything."
"I see, I see."
The lawyer was no longer listening; he was thinking about himself.
"My dear fellows, I feel——"
"What—what's the matter?" asked several voices anxiously.
"I'm feeling—I fancy—a draught...."
"We'll shut the shutters," proposed the host.
"No, we should be stifled! But I've so worn out my voice to-day.... And I have to make another defence to-morrow. Give me a carpet under my feet, and my wrapper; I'm afraid of catching cold in the night chill."
And Hephæstion, the friend of Publius and pupil of Lampridius, rushed away to get Mamertinus' wrapper.