"Is it necessary that I should remain with you during the rest of your labors, which must be principally directed to details?" asked the prefect of the architect.
"No," answered Pontius, "provided you will take the trouble to look at once at my plan, so as to inform yourself on the whole of what I propose, and to give me full powers to dispose of men and means in each case as it arises."
"That is granted," said Titianus. "I know that Pontius will not demand a man or a sesterce more or less than is needed for the purpose."
The architect bowed in silence and Titianus went on.
"But above all things, do you think you can accomplish your task in eight days and nine nights?"
"Possibly, at a pinch; and if I could only have four days more at my disposal, most probably."
"Then all that is needed is to delay Hadrian's arrival by four days and nights."
"Send some interesting people—say the astronomer Ptolemaeus, and
Favorinus, the sophist, who await him here—to meet him at Pelusium.
They will find some way of detaining him there."
"Not a bad idea! We will see. But who can reckon on the Empress's moods? At any rate, consider that you have only eight days to dispose of."
"Good."