“I have brought you an invitation,” he said. “Bacchis is giving a dinner to-morrow to be followed by a fête. We shall be seven including yourself. Be sure you come.”
“A fête? What is the occasion?”
“She has given freedom to her most beautiful slave Aphrodisia. There will be dancers and musicians. I think your two friends are engaged to be there, and ought not to be here now. They are at this moment rehearsing at Bacchis’ house.”
“Oh! that is right,” Rhodis cried, “we had forgotten it. Arise, Myrto, we are very late.”
But Chrysis declared—
“No! not yet! It is too bad to take away my friends. If I had suspected I should not have admitted you. Oh! they are dressed already!”
“Our dresses are not very elaborate,” the girl answered. “We are not beautiful enough to spend much time over our toilettes.”
“Shall I then see you at the temple at some hour to-morrow?” Chrysis asked them.
“Yes, to-morrow morning, we shall take doves as our offering. I am taking a drachma from your purse, Chrysis. We shall not otherwise have the money to purchase them. Good-bye till to-morrow.”