"Save me, Pollux, save me! The monster is devouring me." Antinous much startled, seized the girl's arms to release himself from their embrace, but, she had already freed him and sunk back on to the ground. The next moment she was shivering violently as if from an attack of fever; again she threw up her hands, pressed them to her temples, and gazed with terror and bewilderment into the face that bent above her. "What is it? Who are you?" she asked, in a low voice. He rose quickly, and while he supported her as she attempted to rise and stand upon her feet, he said: "The gods be praised that you are still alive. Our big hound threw you down-and he has terrible teeth." Selene was now standing up, and face to face with the boy at whose last words she shuddered again. "Do, you feel any pain?" asked Antinous, anxiously. "Yes," she said, dully. "Did he bite you?" "I think not--pick up that pin, it has fallen out of my dress." The Bithynian obeyed her behest, and while the girl re-fastened her peplum over her shoulders she asked him again: "Who are you? How came the dog in our palace?" "He belongs--he belongs to us. We arrived late last night, and Pontius put us--" "Then you are with the architect from Rome?" "Yes, but who are you?" "Selene is my name, I am the daughter of the palace-steward." "And who is Pollux, whom you were calling to help you when you recovered your senses?" "What does that matter to you?" Antinous colored, and answered in confusion: "I was startled when you suddenly roused up, with his name so loudly on your lips, when I brought you back to life with water and this essence." "Well, I was roused--and now I can walk again. People who bring furious dogs into a strange place, should know how to take better care of them. Tie the dog up safely, for the children--my little brothers and sisters-- come this way when they want to go out. Thank you for your help--and my pitcher?" As she spoke she looked down on the remains of the pretty jar, which was one her mother had particularly valued. When she saw the fragments lying on the ground, she gave a deep sob, but she shed no tears. Then she exclaimed angrily: "It is infamous!" With these words she turned her back on Antinous and returned to her father's room, using her left foot, however, with caution, for it was very painful. The young Bithynian gazed in silence at Selene's tall, slight form, he felt prompted to follow her, to say to her how very sorry he was for the mischance that had befallen her, and that the hound belonged not to him but to another man; but he dared not. Long after she had disappeared from sight he stood on the same spot. At last he collected his senses, and slowly went back to his room, where he sat on his couch with his eyes fixed dreamily on the ground, till the Emperor's call roused him from his reverie.