THE city hills were as yet unillumined by the beams of the morning sun, and the uncertain twilight, which the saffron streaks in the east spread as harbingers of the coming day, was diffused but sparingly through the windows and courts into the apartments of the mansion. Gallus still lay buried in heavy sleep in his quiet chamber, the carefully chosen position of which both protected him against all disturbing noises, and prevented the early salute of the morning light from too soon breaking his repose. But around all was life and activity: from the cells and chambers below, and the apartments on the upper floor, there poured a swarming multitude of slaves, who presently pervaded every corner of the house, hurrying to and fro, and cleaning and arranging with such busy alacrity, that one unacquainted with these customary movements, would have supposed that some grand festivity was at hand. A whole decuria of house-slaves, armed with besoms and sponges, under the superintendence of the atriensis, began to clean the entrance rooms. Some inspected the vestibulum, to see whether any bold spider had spun its net during the night, on the capital of the pillars, or groups of statuary; and rubbed the gold and tortoise-shell ornaments of the folding-doors and posts at the entrance, and cleaned the dust of the previous day from the marble pavement.