to-day.  An idea carne to me on the way home.  Summon the captain of the harbour and his chief counsellors, the heads of the war office, the superintendent of the fortifications on land and water, especially the Aristarch and Gorgias—­I want to see them.  Time presses.  They must be here in two hours-no, in an hour and a half.  I wish to examine all their plans and charts of the eastern frontier, especially the river channels and canals in the Delta.”

Then she turned to Archibius, who had approached the litter, laid her hand upon his arm, and though her veil prevented him from seeing her sparkling eyes, he felt them shining deep into his heart, as the voice whose melody had often enthralled his soul cried, “We will take it as a favourable omen that it is again you who lead me to this palace in a time of trouble.”

His overflowing heart found expression in the warm reply, “Whenever it may be, forever and ever this arm and this life are yours!” And the Queen answered in a tone of earnest belief, “I know it.”

Then, with her hand still resting on his arm, she moved forward; but when he began to ask whether she really had cause to speak of a time of trouble, she cut him short with the entreaty “Not now.  Let us say nothing.  It is worse than bad—­as evil as possible.  Yet no.  Few are permitted, in an hour of trouble, to lean on the arm of a faithful friend.”

The words were accompanied with a light pressure of her little hand, and it seemed as if his old heart was growing young.

He dared not speak, for her wish was law; but while moving silently at her side, first along the shore, then through the gate, and finally over the marble flagstones which led to the palace portal, it seemed as if he beheld, instead of the veiled head of the hapless Queen, the soft, light-brown locks which floated around the face of a happy child.  Before his mental vision rose the little mistress of the garden of Epicurus.  He saw the sparkle of her large blue eyes, which never ceased to question, yet appeared to contain the mystery of the world.  He fancied he heard once more the silvery cadence of her voice and the bewitching magic of her pure, childlike laughter, and it was hard to remember what she had become.

Snatched away from the present, yet conscious that Fate had granted him a great boon in this sorrowful hour, he moved on at her side and led her through the main entrance, the spacious inner court-yard of the palace.  At the rear was the great door opening into the Queen’s apartments, before which Mardion, Iras, and their companions had already stationed themselves.  At the left was a smaller one leading into the wing occupied by the children.

Archibius was about to conduct Cleopatra across the lighted court-yard, but she motioned towards the children’s rooms, and he understood her.

At the threshold her hand fell from his arm, and when he bowed as if to retire, she said kindly:  “There is Charmian.  You both deserve to accompany me to the spot where childhood is dreaming and peace of mind and painlessness have their abode.  But respect for the Queen has prevented the brother and sister from greeting each other after so long a separation.  Do so now!  Then, follow me.”