And Chloe whispered to Lais: "You were right.

The new master will be kind.

There will not be so many whippings." [10] Good! Good! Hurrah! But while Pausanias was fumbling in the money-bags, a new instance of the generosity of Drusus was presented.

Down a by-path in the field filed a sorrowful company; a long row of slaves in fetters, bound together by a band and chain round the waist of each.

They were a disreputable enough gang of unkempt, unshaven, half-clothed wretches: Gauls and Germans with fair hair and giant physiques; dark-haired Syrians; black-skinned Africans,--all panting and groaning, clanking their chains, and cursing softly at the two sullen overseers, who, with heavy-loaded whips, were literally driving them down into the road.
Again Drusus spoke.
"Whose slaves are these?
Mine ?" "They are your lordship's," said the foremost overseer, who had just recognized his newly come employer.
"Why are they in chains ?" asked Drusus.
"Mamercus found them refractory," replied the guard, "and ordered them to be kept in the underground prison,[11] and to work in the chain gang." [11] _Ergastulum_.
The young man made a motion of disgust.
"Bah!" he remarked, "the whole _familia_[12] will be in fetters if Mamercus has his way much longer.