Xenocles rose.
“It will be a hard task,” he said.
Fortunately Acestor’s house stood in the Melitan quarter so Xenocles, while on his way to it, had time to clear his brain.
As he had feared, he found the slaves in the act of decorating the building with garlands and green branches.
“Take all this down!” said the impetuous little man. “The bride is ill. There will be no wedding.”
The door-keeper, who was standing at the half-open door watching the slaves, heard these words and hurrying to his master, repeated them while announcing the visitor.
Xenocles was not a man to stand waiting at an open door, especially in the house of his future son-in-law. He followed close behind, but while crossing the peristyle he started at the sound of a blow, and distinctly heard the words:
“Take that, bird of misfortune, for your evil tidings.”
Acestor received Xenocles with a sullen face and frowning brow.
“Is what this blockhead says true?” he asked, without letting Xenocles have time to speak.