Paulus was made conscious of what was passing in the senator's mind when, without vouchsafing a single word, he took the key from his hand.

It was not a matter of indifference to him, that this man should think ill of him, and he said, with some embarrassment: "We do not usually go among people without a sheepskin, but I have lost mine." Hardly had he uttered the words, when Phoebicius came back with Hermas' sheepskin in his hand, and cried out to Petrus: "This I found on my return home, in our sleeping-room." "And when have you ever seen Polykarp in such a mantle ?" asked Dorothea.
"When the gods visit the daughters of men," replied the centurion, "they have always made choice of strange disguises.

Why should not a perfumed Alexandrian gentleman transform himself for once into one of those rough fools on the mountain?
However, even old Homer sometimes nodded--and I confess that I was in error with regard to your son.

I meant no offence, senator! You have lived here longer than I; who can have made me a present of this skin, which still seems to be pretty new--horns and all." Petrus examined and felt the skin, "This is an anchorite's garment," he said; "the penitents on the mountain are all accustomed to wear such." "It is one of those rascals then that has found his way into my house!" exclaimed the centurion.

"I bear Caesar's commission, and I am to exterminate ill vagabonds that trouble the dwellers in the oasis, or travellers in the desert.