His eyes were brown and piercing, turning perpetually this way and that, to grasp every detail of the scene around.

His dark, reddish hair was clipped close, and his chin was smooth shaven and decidedly firm--stern, even, the face might have been called, except for the relief afforded by a delicately curved mouth--not weak, but affable and ingenuous.

Drusus wore a dark travelling cloak,[7] and from underneath it peeped his tunic, with its stripe of narrow purple--the badge of the Roman equestrian order.[8] On his finger was another emblem of nobility--a large, plain, gold ring, conspicuous among several other rings with costly settings.
[5] _Rheda_.
[6] Most wealthy Romans had such a _major domo_, whose position was often one of honour and trust.
[7] _Paenula_.
[8] The second order of the Roman nobility.
"_Salve! Salve, Domine!_" cried the slaves a second time, as the carriage drew near.

The young master pushed back the blue woollen curtains in order to gain a better view, then motioned to the driver to stop.
"Are you slaves of mine ?" was his question.

The tone was interested and kindly, and Mago saluted profoundly, and replied:-- "We are the slaves of the most noble Quintus Livius Drusus, who owns this estate." "I am he," replied the young man, smiling.