His teeth chattered, and he shrugged his shoulders up to his ears.
"Ah! Sextus Furius!" cried Clodianus, a little startled. "I am glad to meet you. I wanted to let you know, as soon as I quitted the bath, that I am prevented dining with you to-day. Important business...."
"That is a pity," replied the noble Senator, who, here, in the frigidarium, was not by any means an Apollo. "I had a great many things to talk to you about."
"Concerning the chamberlain. You know we are in treaty over an estate at Baiae?"
"To be sure.--A most delightful residence. Made on purpose for the raptures of the honeymoon." And he winked significantly. But the little Senator pursed up his mouth and knit his brows in displeasure, and flourished his elbows so vehemently that the water splashed up all round him.
"Furius, you are becoming a perfect Fury!" cried Clodianus. Then he laughed at his own precious wit and stirred his side of the bath into circling wavelets.
"You seem monstrously happy!" remarked Furius biting his lips.
"Monstrously! And if I only had a sweetheart as handsome and as hugely rich as your divine Claudia...."
"Pooh, nonsense, I have not got so far as that yet. Titus Claudius, at the eleventh hour, begged for time for reflection."
"You are in treaty for the estate all the same?"
"Certainly--what do you think now? If the affair with Claudius falls through, I shall carry my suit next day to Fannia, who is younger, or to Paula or to old Camilla. My honor is at stake. I have already made every preparation; dramatic and pantomimic performances, sham fights and races. I cannot possibly withdraw; I am compromised on every side."
And again he shivered and his teeth chattered. An instant later he sprang with one leap out of the bath.
"Good-bye," he said, "I am fast turning to ice. With regard to the estate.--Well, we can talk of that another time." He ran as fast as he could across the flags and flung himself into the warm water of the _caldarium_ in the farther pillared hall. After warming his chilled limbs there for a short time, he submitted himself to the operations of the _tractators_[57] or shampooers with brushes and strigils, and then, as red as a boiled lobster, betook himself to the dressing-rooms. He presently made his way home, anointed with Egyptian and Phoenician perfumes, and among the cushions of his luxurious dining-couch did his best to forget the chill of the _frigidarium_ and the coldness of his coy Claudia.