The old woman's pet sprang out of her lap, but neither his mistress nor the cat let themselves be disturbed by the noise, and slept on.
"A watcher among a thousand!" said the architect, laughing.
"And this phalanx of dogs which guard the palace of a Caesar," added Titianus, "might be vanquished with a blow.

Take heed, the worthy matron is about to wake." The dame had in fact been disturbed by the barking.

She sat up a little, lifted her hands, and then, half singing, half muttering a few words, she sank back again in her chair.
"This is delicious!" cried the prefect.
"Begone dull care" she sang in her sleep.
"How may this rare specimen of humanity look when she is awake ?" "I should be sorry to drive the old lady out of her nest!" said the architect unrolling his scroll.
"You shall touch nothing in the little house," cried the prefect eagerly.

"I know Hadrian; he delights in such queer things and queer people, and I will wager he will make friends with the old woman in his own way.

Here at last comes the steward of this palace." The prefect was not mistaken; the hasty step he had heard was that of the official they awaited.