As the two Romans entered, there came forward to greet them the same man that had spoken from the crag, a man of grave and stately presence, whose classic features can still be studied on the extant coins of the kingdom of Pontus. He had cast off the coarse garb he had worn without, and appeared now in a majestic robe of royal purple. On his finger glittered a gold ring, decorated with a cameo sculptured with a miniature head of Nero, a fact of some significance, since the wearing of such a ring was permitted to those only who had the high privilege of free access to the Emperor’s presence. “Welcome to Beth-tamar!” were the monarch’s first words. “Aware that you were drawing near to Cæsarea,” he continued, addressing Crispus, “I have ventured thus to intercept your journey.” “To what end?” “Hath not your father told you?” Crispus answered in the negative. Polemo seemed surprised at this; he hesitated, and glanced at Titus as if his presence were an embarrassment. Divining his thoughts, Crispus spoke: “Titus is my _fidus Achates_. Let not the king take it amiss, but whatever is said must be said before him.” “Be it so,” said Polemo, after a brief pause. “You must, however, both give pledge, that the proposal I am about to make, whether accepted or declined, shall be kept a secret till such time as I shall choose it to be known.” “The character of the noble Polemo,” returned Crispus, “is a sufficient guarantee that he will require of me nothing dishonorable or nothing detrimental to the interests of the Roman state.” “Far be such thoughts from me. My aim is to add to its strength.” Assured thus, both Crispus and Titus promised to hold sacred whatever the king were minded to reveal. “Good! To come at once to the question, for I love not many words, you are doubtless aware of my misfortune in having no son to succeed me on the throne. I am,” he added mournfully, “the last of my race. In these circumstances our lord Nero has graciously conceded to me the favor of nominating a successor, with the necessary proviso that my choice must fall on a man loyal to the Empire. Such a one I have found.” He paused and looked at Crispus, whose head began suddenly to whirl with a daring hope. Could it be that he himself was----? “If,” continued Polemo, “if loyalty to Rome be the first qualification in my successor, who more loyal than a Roman himself? who more likely to meet with the approval of the Senate than one of the Senatorial order? For these reasons, then, and because your past deeds have shown you to be worthy of the dignity, I am minded at a date three years from now to confer upon you the scepter of Pontus. What say you to this?” At first Crispus could say nothing for very amazement. Then, recovering somewhat, he began eagerly to question the king, and found him to all appearances sincere in making the offer.