If we approach the tables, however, the mystery solves itself.

The company is at the favorite games, draughts and dice, singly or together, and the rattle is merely of the tesserae, or ivory cubes, loudly shaken, and the moving of the hostes on the checkered boards.
Who are the company?
"Good Flavius," said a player, holding his piece in suspended movement, "thou seest yon lacerna; that one in front of us on the divan.

It is fresh from the shop, and hath a shoulder-buckle of gold broad as a palm." "Well," said Flavius, intent upon his game, "I have seen such before; wherefore thine may not be old, yet, by the girdle of Venus, it is not new! What of it ?" "Nothing.

Only I would give it to find a man who knows everything." "Ha, ha! For something cheaper, I will find thee here several with purple who will take thy offer.

But play." "There--check!" "So, by all the Jupiters! Now, what sayest thou?
Again ?" "Be it so." "And the wager ?" "A sestertium." Then each drew his tablets and stilus and made a memorandum; and, while they were resetting the pieces, Flavius returned to his friend's remark.
"A man who knows everything! Hercle! the oracles would die.
What wouldst thou with such a monster ?" "Answer to one question, my Flavius; then, perpol! I would cut his throat." "And the question ?" "I would have him tell me the hour-- Hour, said I ?--nay, the minute--Maxentius will arrive to-morrow." "Good play, good play! I have you! And why the minute ?" "Hast thou ever stood uncovered in the Syrian sun on the quay at which he will land?
The fires of the Vesta are not so hot; and, by the Stator of our father Romulus, I would die, if die I must, in Rome.