"Then, Argus actually bit her?" cried Antinous, horrified.
"No," Keraunus replied. "But as she fell her head and foot have been injured, and she is suffering much pain."
"That is very sad," said Hadrian, "and as I am not ignorant of the healing art, I will gladly try to help the poor girl."
"I pay a professional leech, who attends me and mine," replied the steward, in a repellant tone, "and I came hither to request—or, to be frank with you—to require—"
"What?"
"First, that my pardon shall be asked."
"That, the artist, Claudius Venator, is always ready to do when any one has suffered damage by his fault. What has happened—I repeat it—grieves me sincerely, and I beg you tell the maiden to whom the accident happened, that her pain is mine. What more do you desire?"
The steward's features had calmed down at these last words, and he answered with less excitement than before:
"I must request you to chain up your dog, or to shut it up, or in some way to keep it from mischief."
"That is pretty strong!" cried the Emperor.