“Indeed. What has he to attend to of so much importance.”
“He is studying hard; and for the last few days he has been a good deal with Cornelius Cinna, who generally admits him at this hour. Cinna thinks very highly of him.”
“Well, for my part, I must confess I should prefer a ride here under the green trees, to all the harangues of that perverse old man.”
“Aurelius finds him most interesting; he considers him quite a genius.”
“What next?—A genius in the art of seeing the whole world black!”
“Nay, quite seriously. Cinna is initiating Caius into the mysteries of state-craft, teaching him philosophy and history. Caius said, that in the few hours he had been permitted to converse with Cinna, he had learnt more than in many years of solitary study.”
“Well; then our Caius—you yourself called him simply Caius—will soon begin to wrinkle his brows and to scent ruin and misery in everything. Do you know, child, this Cinna....”
She broke off suddenly, for some one called her by name; she looked round and saw Quintus, who came out from among the trees.
“Well? Are you often to be met out here? And always close to the highway! You must take an extraordinary interest in fine horses....”
“We do indeed!” said Lucilia pertly. “For instance, look at that noble grey just now turning into the avenue. What a head! what a mane!”