Why repeat what we both know well enough?  From my first boat and the land on our island to the liberty you bestowed upon us, we owe everything to your father and to you, and a blessing has rested upon your gift and our labour, and what is mine is yours.  No more words are needed.  You know our cliff beyond the Alveus Steganus, north of the great harbour—­the Isle of Serpents.  It is quickly gained by any one who knows the course through the water, but is as inaccessible to others as the moon and stars.  People are afraid of the mere name, though we rid the island of the vermin long ago.  My boys Dionysus, Dionichus, and Dionikus—­they all have ‘Dion’ in their name—­are waiting in the fish market, and when it grows dusk—­” Here the wounded man interrupted the speaker by holding out his hand and thanking him warmly for his fidelity and kindness, though he refused the well-meant invitation.  He admitted that he knew no safer hiding-place than the cliff surrounded by fluttering sea-gulls, where Pyrrhus lived with his family and earned abundant support by fishing and serving as pilot.  But anxiety concerning his future wife prevented his leaving the city.

The freedman however gave him no rest.  He represented how quickly the harbour could be reached from his island, that fish were brought thence from it daily, and he would therefore always have news of what was passing.  His sons were like him, and never used any unnecessary words; talking did not suit them.  The women of the household rarely left the island.  So long as it sheltered their beloved guest, they should not set foot away from it.  If occasion should require, the master could be in Alexandria again quickly enough to put anything right.

This suggestion pleased the architect, who joined in the conversation to urge the freedman’s request.  But Dion, for Barine’s sake, obstinately refused, until Anukis, who had long been anxious to go in pursuit of Archibius, thought it time to give her opinion.

“Go with the man, my lord!” she cried.  “I know what I know.  I will tell our Barine of your faithful resolution; but how can she show her gratitude for it if you are a dead man?”

This question and the information which followed it turned the scale; and, as soon as Dion had consented to accompany the freedman, the Nubian prepared to continue her errands, but the wounded man detained her to give many messages for Barine, and then she was stopped by the architect, who thought he had found in her the right assistant for numerous plans he had in his mind.

He had returned early that morning from Heroonpolis, where, with other members of his profession, he had inspected the newly constructed waterway.  The result of the first investigation had been unfavourable to the verge of discouragement; and, in behalf of the others, he had gone to the Queen to persuade her to give up the enterprise which, though so full of promise, was impracticable in the short time at their disposal.