At breakfast Keraunus drank two cups of strong wine, in which he allowed Arsinoe to mix only a few drops of water. While his daughter was curling his hair a swallow flew into the room; this was a good omen and raised the steward's spirits. Dressed in his best and with a well-filled purse, he was on the point of starting for the council-chamber with his new slave when Sophilus the tailor and his girl-assistant were shown into the living-room. The man begged to be allowed to try the dress, ordered for Roxana by the prefect's wife, on the steward's daughter. Keraunus received him with much condescension and allowed him to bring in the slave who followed him with a large parcel of dresses,--and Arsinoe, who was with the children, was called. Arsinoe was embarrassed and anxious and would far rather have yielded her part to another; still, she was curious about the new dresses. The tailor begged her to allow her maid to dress her; his assistant would help her because the dresses which were only slightly stitched together for trying on, were cut, not in the Greek but in the Oriental fashion. "Your waiting woman," he added turning to Arsinoe, "will be able to learn to-day the way to dress you on the great occasion." "My daughter's maid," said Keraunus, winking slily at Arsinoe, "is not in the house." "Oh, I require no help," cried the tailor's girl. "I am handy too at dressing hair, and I am most glad to help such a fair Roxana." "And it is a real pleasure to work for her," added Sophilus. "Other young ladies are beautified by what they wear, but your daughter adds beauty to all she wears." "You are most polite," said Keraunus, as Arsinoe and her handmaid left the room. "We learn a great deal by our intercourse with people of rank," replied the tailor. "The illustrious ladies who honor me with their custom like not only to see but to hear what is pleasing. Unfortunately there are among them some whom the gods have graced with but few charms, and they, strangely enough, crave the most flattering speeches. But the poor always value it more than the rich when benevolence is shown them." "Well said," cried Keraunus. "I myself am but indifferently well off for a man of family, and am glad to live within my moderate means--so that my daughter--" "The lady Julia has chosen the costliest stuffs for her; as is fitting-- as the occasion demands," said the tailor. "Quite right, at the same time--" "Well, my lord?" "The grand occasion will be over and my daughter, now that she is grown up, ought to be seen at home and in the street in suitable and handsome, though not costly, clothes. "I said just now, true beauty needs no gaudy raiment." "Would you be disposed now, to work for me at a moderate price?" "With pleasure; nay, I shall be indebted to her, for all the world will admire Roxana and inquire who may be her tailor." "You are a very reasonable and right-minded man. What now would you charge for a dress for her?"