midday
So he begged him to accompany him to the impluvium of his private residence ; and several office scribes who were present heard the invitation given . They did not , however , allow themselves to be disturbed in their work ; the youngest only -- a handsome lad of sixteen , an olive-complexioned Egyptian , with keen , eager black eyes , who had listened sharply to every word spoken by the treasurer and his master , quietly rose from his squatting posture as soon as they had quitted the office , and , stole , unobserved into the anteroom . From thence he flew up the ladder-like steps which led to the dovecote of which he had the care , sprang on to the roof of the lower story , and crept flat on his face till he was close to the edge of the large square opening which gave light and air to the impluvium below . With a swift movement of the hand he pushed back the awning which shaded it at midday , and listened intently to the dialogue that went on below . This listener was Anubis , the water-wagtail 's foster-brother ; and he seemed to be in no way behind his beloved mistress in the art of listening ; for no one could prick up his ears more sharply than Anubis . He knew , too , what was to be his reward for exposing himself on a roof to the shafts of the pitiless African sun , for Katharina , his adored play - fellow and the mistress of his ardent boy 's heart , had promised him a sweet kiss , if only he would bring her back some more exact news as to Orion 's perilous journey . Anubis had told her , the evening before , all he had heard in the anteroom to the office , but such general information had not satisfied her .