"Take it to mother; she will like to eat ambrosia for once." "A jolly evening to you!" cried the singer, bowing to the artists who were emptying their cups, and he quitted the hall with his pasty and his dogs.

Before he had fairly left the hall with his long strides, Papias, whose speech had been interrupted, once more raised his wine-cup and began again: "Our Deucalion, our more than Deucalion--" "Pardon me," interrupted Pontius.

"If I once more stop your discourse which began so promisingly; this letter contains important news and our revels must be over for the night.

We must postpone our symposium and your drinking-speech." "It was not a drinking-speech, for if ever there was a moderate man--" Papias began.

But Pontius stopped him again, saying: "Titianus writes me word that he proposes coming to Lochias this evening.