“To a certain degree he succeeded, for his personality exerted a powerful influence over her; and besides, she naturally took great pleasure in mystical, supernatural things, as my brother Straton did in physical strength, and you, Barine, enjoy the gift of song.  You know Anubis by sight.  What Alexandrian has not seen this remarkable man? and whoever has once met his eyes does not easily forget him.  He does indeed rule over mysterious powers, and he used them in his intercourse with the young princess.  It is his work if she cleaves to the religious belief of her people, if she who is a Hellene to the last drop of blood loves Egypt, and is ready to make any sacrifice for her independence and grandeur.  She is called ‘the new Isis,’ but Isis presides over the magic arts of the Egyptians, and Anubis initiated Cleopatra into this secret science, and even persuaded her to enter the observatory and the laboratory—­

“But all these things had their origin in our garden of Epicurus, and my father did not venture to forbid it; for the King had sent a message from Rome to say that he was glad to have Cleopatra find pleasure in her own people and their secret knowledge.

“The flute-player, during his stay on the Tiber, had given his gold to the right men or bound them as creditors to his interest.  After Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus had concluded their alliance, they consented at Lucca to the restoration of the Ptolemy.  Millions upon millions would not have seemed to him too large a price for this object.  Pompey would rather have gone to Egypt himself, but the jealousy of the others would not permit it.  Gabinius, the Governor of Syria, received the commission.

“But the occupants of the Egyptian throne were not disposed to resign it without a struggle.  You know that meanwhile Queen Berenike, Cleopatra’s sister, had been twice married.  She had her miserable first husband strangled—­a more manly spouse had been chosen by the Alexandrians for her second consort.  He bravely defended his rights, and lost his life on the field of battle.

“The senate learned speedily enough that Gabinius had brought the Ptolemy back to his country; the news reached us more slowly.  We watched for every rumour with the same passionate anxiety as now.

“At that time Cleopatra was fourteen, and had developed magnificently.  Yonder portrait shows the perfect flower, but the bud possessed, if possible, even more exquisite charm.  How clear and earnest was the gaze of her bright eyes!  When she was gay they could shine like stars, and then her little red mouth had an indescribably mischievous expression, and in each cheek came one of the tiny dimples which still delight every one.  Her nose was more delicate than it is now, and the slight curve which appears in the portrait, and which is far too prominent in the coins, was not visible.  Her hair did not grow dark until later in life.  My sister Charmian