"He is a Roman citizen, and of an old Macedonian house as well." "Perhaps even of royal descent," added Titianus, laughing.
"I know the man," answered the dealer hastily.

"He is an impecunious insolent old fool." "I should think," interrupted Verus with lofty composure, but rather as being bored, than as reproving the irritated speaker, "it seems to me that this is hardly the place to conduct a discussion as to the nature and disposition of the fathers of all those ladies and young girls." "But he is poor," cried the dealer angrily.

"A few days since he offered to sell me his few miserable curiosities, but really I could not--" "We are sorry for your sake if the transaction was unsuccessful," Verus again interposed, this time with excessive politeness.

"Now, first let us decide on the persons and afterwards on the costumes.

The father of the girl is a Roman citizen then ?" "A member of the council, and in his way a man of position," replied Titianus.
"And I," added his wife Julia, "have taken a great fancy to the sweet little maid, and if the principal part is given to her, and her noble father is without adequate means, as you assert my friend, I will undertake to provide for her costume.