The slave observed, and stood discreetly back. ‘Come!’ said Plautia, suddenly wheeling toward the entrance of the villa, ‘we can do nothing out here but starve ourselves; we must play the fox and not the lion; let us get in again and wait for a fool’s face.’ CHAPTER XVII. Baffled and chafing, Plautia stretched herself on the couch again, and, this time, fell into a profound slumber, whilst her slave nodded and dozed, in company, upon a cushion at her feet. No sooner did the former awake, greatly refreshed, than one of her attendants glided into the room, saying that the Emperor’s steward was awaiting admittance to deliver a message. The handsome Greek was brought in, and he handed her the tablets he bore. Plautia opened the missive, and found it to be a scrawl in Caesar’s own hand, desiring her company at breakfast, or luncheon, by whichever term the Roman prandium may be called. ‘His highness honours me,’ she said frigidly; ‘but I am not well, and must be excused.’ ‘Does your ladyship wish me to take that message to Caesar?’ said Zeno, with subdued regret in his tone. She nodded, and swept majestically into her dressing‐room, where the mirror gave her the satisfaction of beholding a recovered bloom in her cheeks. She had never been prostrated a day with sickness in her memory. Yet to accept a place of her own free will at the table of her jailer was monstrous—at least so her indignant thoughts ran at that moment. With recovered mental tone, her feminine curiosity began to indulge itself in a more minute inspection of its surroundings than it had hitherto found inclination for. In a small closet she came upon an array of female vestments. Caesar and Capreae were in general forgotten for a period, amid the rustle of beautiful and costly fabrics. Presently came another message, that Charicles, the Emperor’s physician, was in attendance, and would see her at her convenience. Plautia gave a grim kind of smile, and directed inquiry to be made who had sent the physician, and why. The answer was that it was by command of Caesar himself, who was much concerned to learn of her indisposition. He also said, that if sufficiently recovered, he would expect to see her at the Imperial supper‐ table. ‘Say to Caesar I am grateful for his thoughtful attention,’ said Plautia; ‘but my illness will not require a physician’s aid, and will amend itself by and by.’