Julian had knelt beside her.

Between the two men passed a look that was mutually understood.
"Remember," Julian whispered, "you are a married man." Philadelphus paled suddenly with anger as the intent of his companion dawned upon him, but he put off his temper shrewdly.
"And so approaching a time when wayside beauties will no longer be free to me," he said, cutting off his fellow in the beginning of his preemption.

"And you have a long freedom before you." There was so much challenge in his manner that Julian accepted it.

He reached into his tunic and drew forth a pair of dice.
"We will play for her," he said.
The Maccabee put the tesserae aside.
"We will not use them," he said.

"I know them to be cogged.