What was this strange mingling of energy and listlessness?
Why this soliloquy and internal debate, when the moment called for the most intense activity?
The general being still silent, his friends did not venture to disturb him.

But Antiochus passed in and out of the study, gathering up writing materials, tablets, and books; and presently Drusus heard the freedman bidding an underling have ready and packed the marble slabs used for the tessellated floor of the Imperator's tent--a bit of luxury that Caesar never denied himself while in the field.

Presently the proconsul raised his eyes.

He was smiling; there was not the least cloud on his brow.
"There will be some public games here this afternoon," he remarked, as though the sole end in view was to make their stay pleasant to his guests: "I have promised the good people of the town to act as _editor_,[152] and must not fail to honour them.

Perhaps the sport will amuse you, although the provincials cannot of course get such good lanista-trained men as you see at Rome.