"To cloud his heart and mind would be a greater," retorted Verus. "Devise some means of taking him away from his star-gazing for only an hour."
"I dare not, and even if I wished it, it could not be done. Do you suppose he follows me whenever I call?"
"But you know him; invent something which will be sure to make him come down from his watchtower."
"I cannot invent or think of any thing."
"Nothing?" asked Verus, going close tip to the Bithynian. "You just now gave striking proof to the contrary."
Antinous turned pale and the praetor went on:
"When you wanted to rescue the fair Selene from the lictors your swift invention threw her into the sea!"
"She did throw herself in, as truly as that the gods—"
"Stay, stay," cried the praetor. "No perjury, at least! Selene is living, you send her flowers, and if I should think proper to conduct Hadrian to the house of Paulina—"
"Oh!" cried Antinous lamentably enough, and grasping the Roman's hand.
"You will not—you can not. Oh Verus! you will not do that."