Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 5, 2025
Instinctively I glanced at the only other interval in the line of absorbed opulent backs. Through it I recognized Agathemer smiling at me! I saw that he, at least, recognized me at once and my dread of Orontides intensified tenfold. I knew Agathemer would be discreet, loyal and trusty. I dreaded to lose countenance if I kept my eyes on his face and I looked elsewhere.
"We were hunting for our ship after dark," Agathemer said, "and somebody hailed us. We asked whether it was Orontides and the answer that came back was: 'Aye, Aye! We were pretty thoroughly drunk and were glad to be helped aboard and shown our beds. That's all I know." "Kingdom of Pluto!" the shipmaster cried, "my name's Gerontides, not Orontides.
Falco and I occupied the interval vacated by Clemens and Vedia. Agathemer, of all men on earth, asked what he could do for us. Falco stood there a long time, saw a goodly fraction of the finest jewels in Orontides' possession and, manifestly, made as favorable impression of connoisseurship on Agathemer as Agathemer made on him. They eyed each other as fellow-adepts.
We had not been there ten days, in fact, when he made me conduct him to the Porticus Margaritaria, on the Via Sacra, near the great Forum, which was and is the focus of pearl dealers and gem dealers in general in Rome. There we entered several shops and, at last, I could not keep him out of that of Orontides, who had known me perfectly.
He had no difficulty in disposing of a gem out of his amulet-bag and then rented lodgings, passed as a freedman, by the name of Eucleides, and gradually made himself known to various gem-experts who gave him as much protection as had his fellow-slaves, his former acquaintances. Orontides perfectly knew who he was, yet engaged him as an assistant by the name of Eucleides and as being a freedman.
Of these eight backs two, one of the lady midway of the counter, the other of her escort, appeared terrifyingly familiar. In fact, when we entered I had three distinct shocks in quick succession. Flashy, painted and rouged as I was I dreaded Orontides' eyes. There he was behind his counter, visible through a rift in the press of handsomely dressed customers of both sexes.
But I added: "What is the world coming to when the Prince of the Republic prizes his privileges so little that he neglects state business for horse-jockeying, when he is so crazy over charioteering that he lets another man wear his robes and occupy his throne? It is a mad world." Next morning we were early on Orontides' ship and once more Agathemer charmed a crew with his flageolet.
Then, all of a sudden I realized that the ship was wholly strange to me and that it was headed not southeast, but northwest. That realization shocked me broad awake. At the same instant I saw the shipmaster approaching. He was not Orontides, nor was he at all like him. He had small feet, was knock-kneed, tall, lean, had a hatchet-face and red hair. "Awake at last!" he commented.
I have carefully kept out of it myself and Orontides has acquiesced, for I told him I had good reason to avoid going in there, as you well know I have.
If you must see me, it will be safe to come to Orontides' shop, as Falco is continually sending you there about gems. You can nod to me without any uttered word and I'll then come here as soon as may be." He left just as dawn brightened into full day. Before the end of the day on which this decree was promulgated I received a letter from Agathemer in which he wrote: "Beware! Keep close.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking