The atriensis disappeared, and presently a slave with a burning reed set fire to the wick in one of the brass bowls by the arch into the vestibule, and Junia appeared.
"Hither, and sit beside me, Junia," Flaccus called to her.
He drew the chair closer, which the alabarch had occupied, and Junia, dropping off her mantle and vitta, sat down in it.
"What a despot one's living is!" she exclaimed. "But for the fact I owe my meat and wine to thy favor, thou shouldst have come to me, to-night, not I to thee!"
"I came often enough at thy beck, Junia! It were time I was visited!"
"Thou ill-timed tyrant! I am expected at a feast to-night, and my young gallant doubtless waits and wonders, at my house."
"Let him wait! I was his predecessor, and his better. Methinks thou hast reduced thy standard of lovers of late."
"No longer the man but the substance," she answered. "In the old days it was muscle and front; now it is purse and position."
"The first was love; the second calculation. Why wilt thou marry this obscure young Alexandrian—whoever he be?"
"To be assured of a living—to cast off the hand thou hast had upon me, thus long."