Otherwise my wisdom will perish with me." "If thou hast not collected enough yet to buy a sound mantle, thy services cannot be very famous." "Modesty hinders me.

But remember, lord, that to-day there are not such benefactors as were numerous formerly; and for whom it was as pleasant to cover service with gold as to swallow an oyster from Puteoli.

No; my services are not small, but the gratitude of mankind is small.

At times, when a valued slave escapes, who will find him, if not the only son of my father?
When on the walls there are inscriptions against the divine Poppaea, who will indicate those who composed them?
Who will discover at the book-stalls verses against Caesar?
Who will declare what is said in the houses of knights and senators?
Who will carry letters which the writers will not intrust to slaves?
Who will listen to news at the doors of barbers?
For whom have wine-shops and bake-shops no secret?
In whom do slaves trust?
Who can see through every house, from the atrium to the garden?
Who knows every street, every alley and hiding-place?
Who knows what they say in the baths, in the Circus, in the markets, in the fencing-schools, in slave-dealers' sheds, and even in the arenas ?" "By the gods! enough, noble sage!" cried Petronius; "we are drowning in thy services, thy virtue, thy wisdom, and thy eloquence.

Enough! We wanted to know who thou art, and we know!" But Vinicius was glad, for he thought that this man, like a hound, once put on the trail, would not stop till he had found out the hiding-place.
"Well," said he, "dost thou need indications ?" "I need arms." "Of what kind ?" asked Vinicius, with astonishment.
The Greek stretched out one hand; with the other he made the gesture of counting money.
"Such are the times, lord," said he, with a sigh.
"Thou wilt be the ass, then," said Petronius, "to win the fortress with bags of gold ?" "I am only a poor philosopher," answered Chilo, with humility; "ye have the gold." Vinicius tossed him a purse, which the Greek caught in the air, though two fingers were lacking on his right hand.
He raised his head then, and said: "I know more than thou thinkest.
I have not come empty-handed.