“If?” repeated the king, looking at the speaker so keenly that his eyes fell, and he answered softly: 

“If Rome should raise no objection.”

Euergetes shrugged his shoulders, and replied gravely: 

“Rome indeed is like Fate, which always must give the final decision in everything we do.  I have certainly not been behindhand in enormous sacrifices to mollify that inexorable power, and my representative, through whose hands pass far greater sums than through those of the paymasters of the troops, writes me word that they are not unfavorably disposed towards me in the Senate.”

“We have learned that from ours also.  You have more friends by the Tiber than Philometor, my own king, has; but our last despatch is already several weeks old, and in the last few days things have occurred—­”

“Speak!” cried Euergetes, sitting bolt upright on his cushions.  “But if you are laying a trap for me, and if you are speaking now as my brother’s tool, I will punish you—­aye! and if you fled to the uttermost cave of the Troglodytes I would have you followed up, and you should be torn in pieces alive, as surely as I believe myself to be the true son of my father.”

“And I should deserve the punishment,” replied Eulaeus humbly.  Then he went on:  “If I see clearly, great events lie before us in the next few days.”

“Yes—­truly,” said Euergetes firmly.

“But just at present Philometor is better represented in Rome than he has ever been.  You made acquaintance with young Publius Scipio at the king’s table, and showed little zeal in endeavoring to win his good graces.”

“He is one of the Cornelii,” interrupted the king, “a distinguished young man, and related to all the noblest blood of Rome; but he is not an ambassador; he has travelled from Athens to Alexandria, in order to learn more than he need; and he carries his head higher and speaks more freely than becomes him before kings, because the young fellows fancy it looks well to behave like their elders.”

“He is of more importance than you imagine.”

“Then I will invite him to Alexandria, and there will win him over in three days, as surely as my name is Euergetes.”

“It will then be too late, for he has to-day received, as I know for certain, plenipotentiary powers from the Senate to act in their name in case of need, until the envoy who is to be sent here again arrives.”

“And I only now learn this for the first time!” cried the king springing up from his couch, “my friends must be deaf, and blind and dull indeed, if still I have any, and my servants and emissaries too!  I cannot bear this haughty ungracious fellow, but I will invite him tomorrow morning—­nay I will invite him to-day, to a festive entertainment, and send him the four handsomest horses that I have brought with me from Cyrene.  I will—­”