CHAPTER IX.
Aye, truly! Sabina's advent had chased all good spirits from the palaceat Lochias.
The Emperor's commands had come upon the peaceful little house as awhirlwind comes on a heap of leaves. The inhabitants were not evenallowed time fully to realize their misfortune, for instead of bewailingthemselves all they could do was to act with circumspection. The tables,seats, cushions, beds and lutes, the baskets, plants, and bird-cages,the kitchen utensils and the trunks with their clothes were all piled inconfusion in the courtyard, and Doris was employing the slaves appointedby Mastor in the task of emptying the house, as briskly and carefully asthough it was nothing more than a move from one house to another. A rayof the sunny brightness of her nature once more sparkled in her eyessince she had been able to say to herself that all that happened to herand hers was one of the things inevitable, and that it was more to thepurpose to think of the future than of the past. The old woman was quiteherself again over the work, and as she looked at Euphorion, who satquite crushed on his couch with his eyes fixed on the ground, she criedout to him:
"After bad times, come good ones! only let us keep from making ourselvesmiserable. We have done nothing wrong, and so long as we do not thinkourselves wretched, we are not so. Only, hold up your head!
"Up, old man, up! Go at once to Diotima and tell her that we beg her togive us hospitality for a few days, and house-room for our chattels."
"And if Caesar does not keep his word?" asked Euphorion gloomily. "Whatsort of a life shall we live then?"
"A bad one-a dog's life; and for that very reason it is wiser to enjoynow what we still possess. A cup of wine, Pollux, for me and yourfather. But there must be no water in it to-day."
"I cannot drink," sighed Euphorion.
"Then I will drink your share and my own too."
"Nay-nay, mother," remonstrated Pollux.
"Well put some water in, lad, just a little water, only do not make sucha pitiful face. Is that the way a young fellow should look who hashis art, and plenty of strength in his hands, and the sweetest ofsweethearts in his heart?"
"It is certainly not for myself, mother," retorted the sculptor, "thatI am anxious. But how am I ever to get into the palace again to seeArsinoe, and how am I to deal with that ferocious old Keraunus?"
"Leave that question for time to answer," replied Doris.
"Time may give a good answer, but it may also give a bad one."
"And the best she only gives to those who wait for her in theantechamber of Patience."
"A bad place for me, and for those like me," sighed Pollux.
"You have only to sit still and go on knocking at the doors," repliedDoris, "and before you can look round you Time will call out, 'come in.'Now show the men how they are to treat the statue of Apollo, and be myown happy, bright boy once more."
Pollux did as she desired, thinking as he went: "She speaks wisely--sheis not leaving Arsinoe behind. If only I had been able to arrange withAntinous at least, where I should find him again; but at Caesar's ordersthe young fellow was like one stunned, and he tottered as he went, as ifhe were going to execution."
Dame Doris had not been betrayed by her happy confidence, for Phlegonthe secretary came to inform her of the Emperor's purpose to give herhusband half a talent, and to continue to pay him in the future hislittle salary.
"You see," cried the old woman, "the sun of better days is alreadyrising. Half a talent! Why poverty has nothing to do with such richfolks as we are! What do you think--would it not be right to pour outhalf a cup of wine to the gods, and allow ourselves the other half?"
Doris was as gay as if she were going to a wedding, and her cheerfulnesscommunicated itself to her son, who saw himself relieved of part of theanxiety that weighed upon him with regard to his parents and sister. Hisdrooping courage, and spirit for life, only needed a few drops of kindlydew to revive it, and he once more began to think of his art. Beforeanything else he would try to complete his successfully-sketched bust ofAntinous.
While he was gone back into the house to preserve his work frominjury and was giving the slaves, whom he had desired to follow him,instructions as to how it should be carried so as not to damage it, hismaster Papias came into the palace-court. He had come to put the lasttouches to the works he had begun, and proposed to make a fresh attemptto win the favor of the man whom he now knew to be the Emperor. Papiaswas somewhat uneasy for he was alarmed at the thought that Pollux mightnow betray how small a share his master had in his last works--which hadbrought him higher praise than all he had done previously. It might evenhave been wise on his part to pocket his pride and to induce his formerscholar, by lavish promises, to return to his workshop; but the eveningbefore he had been betrayed into speaking before the Emperor with somuch indignation at the young artist's evil disposition, of his delightat being rid of him, that, on Hadrian's account, he must give up thatidea. Nothing was now to be done, but to procure the removal of Polluxfrom Alexandria, or to render him in some way incapable of damaging him,and this he might perhaps be able to do by the instrumentality of thewrathful Emperor.
It even came into his mind to hire some Egyptian rascal to have himassassinated; but he was a citizen of peaceful habits, to whom a breachof the law was an abomination and he cast the thought from him as toohorrible and base. He was not over-nice in his choice of means, he knewmen, was very capable of finding his way up the backstairs, and did nothesitate when need arose to calumniate others boldly, and thus he hadbefore now won the day in many a battle against his fellow-artists ofdistinction. His hope of succeeding in the tripping of a scholar ofno great repute, and of rendering him harmless so long as the Emperorshould remain in Alexandria, was certainly not an over-bold one. Hehated the gate-keeper's son far less than he feared him, and he did notconceal from himself that if his attack on Pollux should fail and theyoung fellow should succeed in proving independently of what he wascapable he could do nothing to prevent his loudly proclaiming all thathe had done in these last years for his master.
His attention was caught by the slaves in Euphorion's little house,who were carrying the household chattels of the evicted family into thestreet. He had soon learnt what was going forward, and highly pleasedat the ill-will manifested by Hadrian towards the parents of his foe,he stood looking on, and after brief reflection desired a negro to callPollux to speak to him.
The master and scholar exchanged greetings with a show of haughtycoolness and Papias said:
"You forgot to bring back the things which yesterday, without asking myleave, you took out of my wardrobe. I must have them back to-day."
"I did not take them for myself, but for the grand lord in there, andhis companion. If any thing is missing apply to him. It grieves methat I should have taken your silver quiver among them, for the Roman'scompanion has lost it. As soon as I have done here, I will take home allof your things that I can recover, and bring away my own. A good manythings belonging to me are still lying in your workshop."
"Good," replied Papias. "I will expect you an hour before sunset, andthen we will settle every thing," and without any farewell he turned hisback on his pupil and went into the palace.
Pollux had told him that some of the properties, which he had takenwithout asking permission, had been lost-among them an object ofconsiderable value--and this perhaps would give him a hold over him bywhich to prevent his injuring him. He remained in the palace scarcelyhalf an hour and then, while Pollux was still engaged in escorting hismother and their household goods to his sister's house, he went to visitthe night magistrate, who presided over the safety of Alexandria.Papias was on intimate terms with this important official, for he hadconstructed for him a sarcophagus for his deceased wife, an altar withpanels in relief for his men's apartment, and other works, at moderateprices, and he could count on his readiness to serve him. When hequitted him he carried in his hand an order of arrest against hisassistant Pollux, who had attacked his property and abstracted a quiverof massive silver. The magistrate had also prom
ised him to send two ofhis guards who would carry the offender off to prison.
Papias went home with a much lighter heart. His pupil, after he hadaccomplished the easy transfer of his parents, had returned to thepalace, and there, to his delight, came across Mastor, who soon fetchedhim the garments and masks that he had lent the day before to Hadrianand Antinous. The Sarmatian at the same time told him, with tears inhis eyes, a sad, very sad story, which stirred the young sculptor's souldeeply, and which would have prompted him to penetrate into the palaceat once, and at any risk, if he had not seen the necessity of being withPapias at the appointed hour, which was drawing near, to answer for thevaluable property that was missing. Thinking of nothing, wishing nothingso much as to be back as promptly as possible at Lochias, where he wasmuch needed, and where his heart longed to be, he took the bundle outof the slave's hand and hurried away. Papias had sent all his assistantsand even his slaves off the premises; he received the breathless Polluxquite alone, and took from him, with icy calmness, the things which hadbeen borrowed from his property-room, asking for them one by one.
"I have already told you," cried Pollux, "that it is not I, butthe illustrious Roman--you know as well as I do, who he is--who isanswerable for the silver quiver and the torn chiton." And he began totell him how Antinous had commanded him, in the name of his master, tofind masks and disguises for them both. But Papias cut off his speechat the very beginning, and vehemently demanded the restoration of hisquiver and bow, of which Pollux could not work out the value in twoyears. The young man whose heart and thoughts were at Lochias and who,at any cost, did not want to be detained longer than was necessary,begged his master, with all possible politeness, to let him go now, andto settle the matter with him to-morrow after he had discussed it withthe Roman, from whom he might certainly demand any compensation hechose. But when Papias interrupted him again and again, and obstinatelyinsisted on the immediate restoration of his property, the artist whoseblood was easily heated, grew angry and replied to the attacks andquestions of the older man with vehement response.
One angry word led to another, and at last Papias hinted of persons whotook possession of other person's silver goods, and when Pollux retortedthat he knew of some who could put forward the works of others as theirown, the master struck his fist upon the table, and going towards thedoor he cried out, as soon as he was at a safe distance from the furiouslad's powerful fists:
"Thief! I will show you how fellows like you are dealt with inAlexandria."
Pollux turned white with rage, and rushed upon Papias, who fled, andbefore Pollux could reach him he had taken refuge behind the two guardssent by the magistrate, and who were waiting in the antechamber.
"Seize the thief!" he cried. "Hold the villain who stole my silverquiver and now raises his hand against his master. Bind him, fetter him,carry him off to prison."
Pollux did not know what had come upon him; he stood like a bear thathas been surrounded by hunters; doubtful but at bay. Should he flinghimself upon his pursuers and fell them to the earth? should hepassively await impending fate?
He knew every stone in his master's house; the anteroom in which hestood, and indeed the whole building was on the ground floor. In theminute while the guards were approaching and his master was giving theorder to the lictor, his eye fell on a window which looked out uponthe street, and possessed only by the single thought of defending hisliberty and returning quickly to Arsinoe he leaped out of the openingwhich promised safety and into the street below.
"Thief--stop thief!" he heard as he flew on with long strides; and likethe pelting of rain driven by all the four winds came from all sides thesenseless, odious, horrible cry: "Stop thief!--stop thief!" it seemed todeprive him of his senses.
But the passionate cry of his heart: "To Lochias, to Arsinoe! keep free,save your liberty if only to be of use at Lochias!" drowned the shoutsof his pursuers and urged him through the streets that led to the oldpalace.
On he went faster and farther, each step a leap; the briny breeze fromthe sea already fanned his glowing cheeks and the narrow empty streetyonder he well knew led to the quay by the King's harbor, where he couldhide from his pursuers among the tall piles of wood. He was just turningthe corner into the alley when an Egyptian ox-driver threw his goadbetween his legs; he stumbled, fell to the ground, and instantly feltthat a dog which had rushed upon him was tearing the chiton he wore,while he was seized by a number of men. An hour later and he foundhimself in prison, bitten, beaten, and bound among a crew of malefactorsand real thieves.
Night had fallen. His parents were waiting for him and he came not; andin Lochias which he had not been able to reach there were misery andtrouble enough, and the only person in the world who could carry comfortto Arsinoe in her despair was absent and nowhere to be found.