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Even now I lifted up my soul in prayer for your amendment. Oh, it seemed as though our otherwise so gracious Saviour repulsed my prayer,—as though he would not listen to me; he suffered my thoughts to wander upon trifling things.

You prayed for me? Oh, loving Hekebolius, you pray even for us dumb animals—at least when we wear court dress?

What mean you, my son?

Hekebolius, how could you write those shameful verses?

I? I swear by all that is high and holy

I see in your eyes that you are lying! I have full assurance that you wrote them. How could you do it, I ask—and under the name of Libanius, too?

Well, well, my dearly beloved, since you know it, I

Ah, Hekebolius! Deceit, and lies, and treachery