CHAPTER V
DICE—THE VENUS THROW
About the middle of the night Chrysis was awakened by three knocks at the door.
She was sleeping with her two friends Rhodis and Myrtocleia, and rising cautiously she went down and half opened the door.
A voice came from without. “Who is it, Djala? Who is it?” she asked.
“Naucrates wishes to speak to you. I told him that you were engaged.”
“Oh, how foolish! Most certainly I will see him. I am not engaged. Come in, Naucrates. I am in my chamber.”
She went back to bed. Naucrates remained for a moment at the door as if he feared to be indiscreet. The two girls, who were musicians, opened their sleepy eyes but could not rend themselves from their dreams.
“Sit down,” said Chrysis. “There need be no false modesty between us two. I know that you have not come to see me. What do you want?”
Naucrates was a well-known philosopher who for more than twenty years had been the lover of Bacchis and had not deceived her, though more from indolence than fidelity be it said. His grey hair was cut short, his beard was pointed after the manner of Demosthenes and his moustaches were even with his lips. He wore a great white woollen robe.