Am I not right, Manius ?" "Your words are both true and kindly," said the young man.
"And you are discerning," said the emperor, with a smile.

"Now, good people, observe that I have invited our young officer to Rome for two purposes: to show him, first, that I live no better than the poorest nobleman; secondly, that I am only a servant of the people; for, since he is an able officer, I shall resist my own will and keep him in the public service." "Bravo!" said they all, and clapped their hands.
A strange, inscrutable man was the emperor at that moment, the mildness of a lamb in his voice and manner, the gleam of a serpent's eye under his brows.

And that right hand of his, clinched now and quivering a little, had it grasped a reaching, invisible serpent within him?
Kindly?
Yes, but with the kindness of a deep and subtle character who saw in forbearance the best politics and the most effective discipline.
Lights were now aglow in a great candelabrum over the table and in many tall lampadaria.
A slave, who was a juggler, came near and began to fill the gloom above him with golden disks.

From afar came the music of flutes and timbrels.

Julia retired presently, and returned soon with her pet dwarf Cenopas.