and still shuddered at her advice to remove the singer from her path; for an inner voice warned her not to burden her soul now with a fresh crime, which would disturb its peace.  Besides, she had at first been much attracted by this charming, winning creature; but the irritating thought that Antony had bestowed the same gift upon the sovereign and the artist’s daughter still so incensed her, that it taxed to the utmost her graciousness and self-control as, without addressing any special person, she exclaimed, glancing back into the hall:  “This examination will be followed by another.  When the time comes, the accused must appear before the judges; therefore she must remain at Lochias and in custody.  It is my will that no harm befalls her.  You are her friend, Charmian.  I will place her in your charge.  Only”—­here she raised her voice—­“on pain of my anger, do not allow her by any possibility to leave the palace, even for a moment, or to hold intercourse with any person save yourself.”

With these words she passed out of the hall and went into her own apartments.  She had turned the night into day, not only to despatch speedily matters which seemed to her to permit of no delay, but even more because, since the battle of Actium, she dreaded the restless hours upon her lonely couch.  They seemed endless; and though before she had remembered with pleasure the unprecedented display and magnificence with which she had surrounded her love-life with Antony, she now in these hours reproached herself for having foolishly squandered the wealth of her people.  The present appeared unbearable, and from the future a host of black cares pressed upon her.

The following days were overcrowded with business details.

Half of her nights were spent in the observatory.  She had not asked again for Barine.  On the fifth night she permitted Alexas to conduct her once more to the little observatory which had been erected for her father at Lochias, and Antony’s favourite knew how to prove that a star which had long threatened her planet was that of the woman whom she seemed to have forgotten as completely as she had ignored his former warning against this very foe.

The Queen denied this, but Alexas eagerly continued:  “The night after your return home your kindness was again displayed in its inexhaustible and—­to us less noble souls—­incomprehensible wealth.  Deeply agitated, we watched during the memorable examination the touching spectacle of the greatest heart making itself the standard by which to measure what is petty and ignoble.  But ere the second trial takes place the wanderers above, who know the future, bid me warn you once more; for that woman’s every look was calculated, every word had its fixed purpose, every tone of her voice was intended to produce a certain effect.  Whatever she said or may yet say had no other design than to deceive my royal mistress.  As yet there have been no definite questions and answers.  But you will have her examined, and then——­What may she not make of the story of Mark Antony, Barine, and the two armlets?  Perhaps it will be a masterpiece.”