His countenance had put on an expression of eager attention, and he once more took up the painting attributed to Apelles, sat down with it on the couch, and appeared wholly absorbed in the contemplation of the picture, which hid his face from the bystanders.
But his eye was not resting on the work before him, but on the marriage-scene at his feet, in which he detected each moment some fresh and unique beauty.

As the dealer sat there for some minutes with the little picture on his knee, the steward's face brightened, Selene drew a deep breath, and Arsinoe went up to her father to cling to his arm and whisper in his ear: "Do not let him have the Apelles cheap--remember my bracelet." Gabinius now rose, glanced at the various objects lying on the table and said in a much shorter and more business-like tone than before: "For all these things I can give you--wait a minute--twenty-seventy-four hundred--four hundred and fifty--I can give you six hundred and fifty drachmae, not a sesterce more!" "You are joking," cried Keraunus.
"Not a sesterce more," answered the other coldly.

"I do not want to make anything, but you as a business man will understand that I do not wish to buy with a certain prospect of loss.

As regards the Apelles--" "Well ?" "It may be of some value to me, but only under certain conditions.
The case is quite different as regards buying pictures.

Your two young damsels know of course that my line of business leads me to admire and value all that is beautiful, but still I must request you to leave me alone with your father for a little while.