The courtyard and the colonnades were swarming with the multitude of Caesar's slaves, of both sexes, small boys, and pretorian soldiers, who kept guard in the palace.

Here and there among dark or swarthy visages was the black face of a Numidian, in a feathered helmet, and with large gold rings in his ears.

Some were bearing lutes and citharas, hand lamps of gold, silver, and bronze, and bunches of flowers, reared artificially despite the late autumn season.

Louder and louder the sound of conversation was mingled with the splashing of the fountain, the rosy streams of which fell from above on the marble and were broken, as if in sobs.
Acte had stopped her narration; but Lygia gazed at the throng, as if searching for some one.

All at once her face was covered with a blush, and from among the columns came forth Vinicius with Petronius.