on duty, he politely makes way, and, if his head chances to be covered, he uncovers it.  He loyally recognises the claims of that toga edged with purple, and of those lictors walking in front with the symbolic bundles of rods containing the symbolic axe.  Whatever he may think of the men, he pays all respect to their office.  The Forum is now full, the banking and money-changing are all aglow in the Basilica Aemilia, the loungers are playing their games of “three men in a row,” or perhaps their backgammon, on the pavement of the outer colonnade of the Basilica of Julius.  Groups are reading and discussing the columns of the “Daily News,” which are either posted up or have been purchased from the professional copiers.  This is an official, and therefore a censored, publication in clear manuscript, containing proclamations, resolutions of the senate, bulletins of the court, results of trials, the births and deaths registered in the city, announcements of public shows and sports, striking events, such as fires, earthquakes, and portents, and occasional advertisements.  Silius may perhaps stop and read; more probably his slaves regularly purchase a copy for his private use.  Criers are meanwhile bawling to you to come and see the Asiatic giant, or the mermen, or the two-headed baby.  The old sailor who has been wrecked, or pretends to have been, is walking about with a harrowing picture of the scene painted on a board and is soliciting alms.  The busybody is gossiping among little knots of people and telling, manufacturing, or magnifying the latest scandal, or the latest news from the frontier, from Antioch, from the racing-stables, the law-courts, or the palace.  Perhaps Silius has a little banking business to do, and he enters the Basilica to give instructions as to sending a draft to Athens or Alexandria in favour of some friend or relative there who is in want of money, or whom he has instructed to make artistic or other purchases.  In about seven days his correspondent will obtain the cash through a banker at Athens, or in about twelve or fourteen days at Alexandria.

Perhaps, however, one of his clients has asked for his help in a case at law, which is being tried either over the way in the Basilica of Julius, or round the corner to the right in the Forum of Augustus.  If a man of study and eloquence, he may have consented to act as pleader—­taking no fee, because he is merely performing a patron’s duty. Noblesse oblige.  In the year 64 a pleader who has taken up a cause for some one else than a dependant is allowed by law to charge a fee not exceeding L100, but the law says nothing, or at least can do no thing, as to the liberal presents which are offered him under some other pretext.  If he is not to plead, Silius may at any rate have been requested to lend moral support by seating himself beside the favoured party and perhaps appearing as a witness to character.  If he pleads in any complicated or technical case, it will generally be after careful consultation with