"I am demolishing this bungler's work for it enrages me!"
The artist's arms fell by his side; astonished and infuriated he stared at the destroyer of his handiwork, and cried out:
"Madman! this is enough. One blow more and you will feel the weight of my fists."
Hadrian laughed aloud, a cold hard laugh, flung the lath at Pollux's feet and said:
"Judgment against judgment—it is only fair."
"Fair?" shrieked Pollux, beside himself.
"Your wretched rubbish, which my squinting apprentice could have done as well as you, and this figure born in a moment of inspiration! Shame upon you! Once more, if you touch the Urania again I warn you, you shall learn—"
"Well, what?"
"That in Alexandria grey hairs are only respected so long as they deserve it."
Hadrian folded his arms, stepped quite close up to Pollux, and said: