THE SHIPWRECK. 285

“What!” said Ampelisca; “is this a temple of
Aphrodité?”

“Just so, and I am the priestess. But come along,
and I will do the best I can for you.”

Just as the three women disappeared into the tem-
ple, Plesidippus’s servant, Trachalio, came running
along the beach, looking for his master, who had
said he should be at the temple at noon. It was now
past noon, but he was not there. Some fishermen,
slaves of Daemones, were just getting their nets ready,
and Trachalio spoke to them. “ Have you seen my
master,” he asked, “a fine, bold young fellow, with a.
fresh-coloured face?”

“No,” said one of the men, “no one of the kind.”

“ Well, have you seen an old wretch with a huge
stomach and arched eyebrows, for all the world like
a satyr, who had two rather pretty girls with him?”

“No,” replied the fishermen, “we haven’t seen
either your good-looking young man, or your ill-look-
ing old one.”

“Well,” said Trachalio to himself, “I will go and
inquire at the temple.”

Just at that moment Ampelisca was coming out
with a water-can in her hand. She was going to fill
it at the cottage.

“Good heavens!” cried Trachalio, “ why, it is Am-
pelisca herself!”

“Why, it is Trachalio, Plesidippus’s valet,” said the
girl, equally surprised.