He hoped to hear something sufficiently characteristic of the manners of the provincial capital to make an anecdote for Caesar's table.

Then, when he understood that the matter concerned Melissa's brother, and a distinguished artist, he smiled expectantly.

Even when he learned that Alexander was being hunted down for some heedless jest against the emperor, he only threatened Melissa sportively with his finger; but on being told that this jest dealt with the murder of Geta, he seemed startled, and the tone of his voice betrayed serious displeasure as he replied to the petitioner, "Do you suppose that I have three heads, like the Cerberus at the feet of your god, that you ask me to lay one on the block for the smile of a pretty girl ?" He signed to his charioteer, and the horses whirled the light vehicle across the square and down the street of Hermes.
Andreas gazed after him, and muttered, with a shrug "My first petition to a great man, and assuredly my last." "The coward!" cried Melissa; but Andreas said, with a superior smile.
"Let us take a lesson from this, my child.

Those who reckon on the help of man are badly off indeed.

We must all trust in God, and each in himself.".