Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/309

 not content with dressing in women's textures must needs commit the extravagance of an entire silk awning."

"It's beautiful," said Proculus. "But I should say it is too thin to do much good."

"It's hard to get a satisfactory awning," said Balbinus, "they have tried all sorts in my time. One thick enough to stop the sunrays altogether is so heavy it sags till the inner edge cuts off the view of the upper tiers over the farther side of the arena, and besides it makes the place look gloomy. So does any awning all one color. Brown and gray are coolest, but very dingy. Blue and green make the people look ghastly and the women ugly, white and yellow make a glare no one can endure and red makes the place look hot. This awning is about the best I ever saw. It's light and not too thin, the pattern is gay and the red and yellow, blue and green make a pleasant variety of bright colors on the audience."

"Too much red," said Proculus.

"That's Commodus again," said Balbinus. "He likes red."

"Speaking of red," said Proculus, "what have you on under your toga?"

"Tunic, of course?" said Balbinus.

"But what color?" Proculus queried.

"Crimson," said Balbinus.