"Behold, already the witchery of the garden!" Agrippa said softly to Junia.
"This," added the proconsul, introducing the new-comer, "is Justin Classicus, the latest fashion in philosophers, the most popular Jew in Alexandria."
Classicus bowed, glanced at Junia and again at Agrippa, and made a place for Lydia on the exedra, so that he might sit on a taboret at her feet.
"What news, good sir," Agrippa asked, "among the schools over the world?"
"News?" Classicus repeated. "Nothing. Philo is silent; Petronius is mersed in affairs in Bithynia; Rome's gone a-frolicking, scholars and all, to Capri."
"Alas!" said Flaccus; "nothing happens now but scandal; even the ancient miracles of divine visitations, phenixes, comets and monsters have ceased."
"But you say nothing of religion," said Classicus. "Yet possibly it follows, now, in order."
"After monsters, phenixes and the rest," put in Agrippa.
"What is it?" Flaccus asked.
"Perchance thou hast heard," Classicus responded. "It issues out of Judea, which adds to its interest, since we are accustomed to nothing but sobriety from Palestine."