“Why ‘may be,’ O Gyges?”
“I am no judge of ornament, O Psyche,” replied Gyges, “unless it be a decoration for harness or chariot. Sculpture interests me more. Thine enthusiasm, however, pleases me more than the jewelry. Of a truth, dost thou like the chain with the hyacinth stones?”
“’Tis beautiful. Thinkest thou it is very costly?”
“Shall I ask?” he suggested.
“Nay, nay,” returned Psyche, with a smile. “Raise not the jeweller’s hopes. What heavy ear-rings are being worn now! Wouldst thou not think that they would tear the ear? Jewelry is not adornment when it disfigures. Dost thou not think so?”
“Ear-rings please me not,” said Gyges. “Are not those hair-nets and bands pretty?”
“Ay, my Gyges. But look!” she added quickly. “There is a ring like the one thou didst buy me. Dost thou remember the day we saw a similar one in a shop in the Suburra? Thou didst ask the price. Was not the amount one-half what thou didst pay here? Thou wert angry that day.”
“Truly, not angry!” he protested.
“Perchance thou wert provoked,” she playfully remarked. “Truly, however, we know that no inferior jewelry is sold here. Thou wilt never know how proud I was when I heard that my ring was bought here,—in this shop which senators and wealthy men patronize. Look there, Gyges! What a beautiful set of jewels is being shown that—”
“Softly, my Psyche,” interrupted Gyges. “The purchaser of those jewels is Nero.”