I could eat no more, so I turned to my whilom informant to learn as much as I could and sought to draw him out with far-fetched gossip.

I inquired who that woman could be who was scurrying about hither and yon in such a fashion.

"She's called Fortunata," he replied.

"She's the wife of Trimalchio, and she measures her money by the peck.

And only a little while ago, what was she! May your genius pardon me, but you would not have been willing to take a crust of bread from her hand.