Doubtless this Arrius hath tricks of language; otherwise he could not so confound himself, to-day a Jew, to-morrow a Roman; but of the rich tongue of Athene--discourseth he in that as well ?" "With such purity, Messala, he might have been a contestant in the Isthmia." "Art thou listening, Caius ?" said Messala.

"The fellow is qualified to salute a woman--for that matter Aristomache herself--in the Greek; and as I keep the count, that is five.

What sayest thou ?" "Thou hast found him, my Messala," Caius answered; "or I am not myself." "Thy pardon, Drusus--and pardon of all--for speaking in riddles thus," Messala said, in his winsome way.

"By all the decent gods, I would not strain thy courtesy to the point of breaking, but now help thou me.

See!"-- he put his hand on the dice-box again, laughing--"See how close I hold the Pythias and their secret! Thou didst speak, I think, of mystery in connection with the coming of the son of Arrius.