An hour
after sunset I will meet you at the gate of bronze. Say naught to
Manius of your coming or of this letter."
"Temptress!" said he, crushing the sheet of scented vellum. "But she
is beautiful," he added, wistfully. "She is like the Venus of
Alcamenes. I would love well to look upon her again."
He smoothed out the crumpled vellum.
"'Say naught to Manius,'" he read again. "I like it not. I shall
write to her that I have other business."
And so did he, although in phrases of regret, as became one addressing
a daughter of the great king.
Sorely vexed, she thought ever of the noble beauty of the Roman youth,
and became more eager to gain her purpose. It may be the girl bore for
him a better feeling than she had ever known. She wished, if possible,
to win him, knowing that her father would not be slow to help him
forward. The handsome youth had pleased her eye, and might, also,
gratify her ambition. Those days the art of intrigue was the study of
a king's daughter; so, straightway, she invented a cunning plan.
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