And now, while the palate of the guests was being regaled with the choicest of wines, their eyes were gratified by a series of beautiful tableaux drawn from the domain of classic mythology. The last of these represented the Judgment of Paris; by a trifling departure from the original story, the prize of the fairest goddess was to be a golden zone. Paris, apparently unable to come to a decision as to which of the three diaphanously-attired goddesses was the fairest, made the award dependent upon their dancing. At this there followed _pas seuls_ of such a character that the modest maiden who sat by Josephus was compelled to avert her gaze. Venus, having received the award from the hand of the Dardan shepherd, advanced to the edge of the stage, and surveyed the audience. “Alas!” she cried with a sudden sigh, “Paris has made a mistake, for I see one here more lovely than myself. Let the gift be hers, and let her be hailed as Queen of Beauty.” With that she unclasped the golden cestus and flung it into the middle of the hall just as the curtain was falling upon the tableau. A slave, picking up the fallen zone, carried it to Florus. “‘ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗ’--‘for the fairest,’” said he, reading the sapphire letters set in the golden cestus. “The question is,” continued Florus, looking round upon a bevy of ladies who had drawn near to view the zone, and it was well worth viewing for its beautiful workmanship, “the question is, who _is_ the fairest?” But, however fair each lady might secretly deem herself, as there was not found any bold enough to come forward and claim this title, it became clear that, if the zone must be bestowed at all, it would be necessary to appoint an umpire to decide this ticklish matter. The ladies, entering with a zest into the scheme, were quite willing, so they averred, to submit their charms to adjudication. “A pretty little tableau, this,” whispered Rufus to Crispus, “prearranged by Florus for the purpose of flattering the vanity of Berenice. His liking for her is so well known that whoever is appointed umpire--unless he be a very independent character--will lack the courage to decide for any but the princess.” A proposal on the part of Tertullus to appoint the umpire by lot was received with acclamation. Crispus, somewhat against his will, was forced by Rufus to take his place among the candidates for the office, and, what is more, when his turn came for putting his hand into the balloting urn he drew forth the tessera inscribed with the decisive word, “_Judex_.” He compressed his lips, much preferring that the honor should have fallen upon some other. Rufus now made a proposition. “Methinks it is but fair,” said he, “that the lady round whose waist the zone is clasped should bestow a kiss upon the adjudicator.” This was laughingly made one of the conditions of the contest.