“The only thing I really had a fancy for out of all your possessions you are not willing to concede, and so I must abide by my word—­or I go on my way.”

Again Cleopatra and her husband exchanged a few muttered words and rapid glances, Euergetes watching them the while; his legs straddled apart, his huge body bent forward, and his hands resting on his hips.  His attitude expressed so much arrogance and puerile, defiant, unruly audacity, that Cleopatra found it difficult to suppress an exclamation of disgust before she spoke.

“We are indeed brethren,” she said, “and so, for the sake of the peace which has been restored and preserved with so much difficulty, we give in.  The best way will be to request Asclepiodorus—­”

But here Euergetes interrupted the queen, clapping his hands loudly and laughing: 

“That is right, sister! only find me my Hebe!  How you do it is your affair, and is all the same to me.  To-morrow evening we will have a rehearsal, and the day after we will give a representation of which our grandchildren shall repeat the fame.  Nor shall a brilliant audience be lacking, for my complimentary visitors with their priestly splendor and array of arms will, it is to be hoped, arrive punctually.  Come, my lords, we will go, and see what there is good to drink or to listen to at the table in the next room.”

The doors were opened; music, loud talking, the jingle of cups, and the noise of laughter sounded through them into the room where the princes had been supping, and all the king’s guests followed Euergetes, with the exception of Eulaeus.  Cleopatra allowed them to depart without speaking a word; only to Publius she said:  “Till we meet again!” but she detained the Corinthian, saying: 

“You, Lysias, are the cause of this provoking business.  Try now to repair the mischief by bringing the girl to us.  Do not hesitate!  I will guard her, protect her with the greatest care, rely upon me.”

“She is a modest maiden,” replied Lysias, “and will not accompany me willingly, I am sure.  When I proposed her for the part of Hebe I certainly supposed that a word from you, the king and queen, would suffice to induce the head of the temple to entrust her to you for a few hours of harmless amusement.  Pardon me if I too quit you now; I have the key of my friend’s chest still in my possession, and must restore it to him.”

“Shall we have her carried off secretly?” asked Cleopatra of her husband, when the Corinthian had followed the other guests.

“Only let us have no scandal, no violence,” cried Philometor anxiously.  “The best way would be for me to write to Asclepiodorus, and beg him in a friendly manner to entrust this girl—­Ismene or Irene, or whatever the ill-starred child’s name is—­for a few days to you, Cleopatra, for your pleasure.  I can offer him a prospect of an addition to the gift of land I made today, and which fell far short of his demands.”