"If you were any one but yourself, I would let you go at once in your anger, and with the double charge on your conscience of doing an injustice to two well-meaning men.

But as you are the granddaughter of Claudius Balbillus, I feel it to be due to myself to say, that if Pollux had really made this monstrous bust he would not be in this palace now, for I should have turned him out and thrown the horrid object after him.

You look surprised--you do not know who I am that can address you so." "Yes, yes," cried Balbilla, much mollified, for she felt assured that the man who stood before her, as unflinching as if he were cast in bronze, and with an earnest frown, was speaking the truth, and that he must have some right to speak to her with such unwonted decision.

"Yes indeed, you are the principal architect of the city; Titianus, from whom we have heard of you, has told us great things of you; but how am I to account for your special interest in me ?" "It is my duty to serve you--if necessary, even with my life." "You," said Balbilla, puzzled.

"But I never saw you till yesterday." "And yet you may freely dispose of all that I have and am, for my grandfather was your grandfather's slave." "I did not know"-- said Balbilla, with increasing confusion.
"Is it possible that your noble grandfather's instructor, the venerable Sophinus, is altogether forgotten.