During Charmian’s absence the latter had received a letter from Alexas, in which he informed her that he was ordered by the Queen to subject her to an examination the next morning.  Her cause looked dark but, if she did not render his duty harder by the harshness which had formerly caused him much pain, he would do his utmost to protect her from imprisonment, forced labour in the mines, or even worse misfortunes.  The imprudent game which she had played with King Caesarion had unfortunately roused the people against her.  The depth of their indignation was shown by the fury with which they had assailed the house of her grandfather, Didymus.  Nothing could save Dion, who had audaciously attacked the illustrious son of their beloved Queen, from the rage of the populace.  He, Alexas, knew that in this Dion she would lose a friend and protector, but he would be disposed to take his place if her conduct did not render it impossible for him to unite mercy with justice.

This shameful letter, which promised Barine clemency in return for her favour without unmasking him in his character of judge, explained to Charmian the agitation in which she found her friend’s daughter.

It was doubtless a little relief to Barine to express her loathing and abhorrence of Alexas as eagerly as her gentle nature would permit, but fear, grief, and indignation continued to struggle for the mastery in her oppressed soul.

It would have been expected that the keen-witted woman would have eagerly inquired what Charmian had accomplished with the Queen and Archibius, and what new events had happened to affect Cleopatra, the state, and the city; but she questioned her with far deeper interest concerning the welfare of her lover, desiring information in regard to many things of which her friend could give no tidings.  In her brief visit to Dion’s couch she had not learned how he bore his own misfortunes and Barine’s, what view he took of the future, or what he expected from the woman he loved.

Charmian’s ignorance and silence in regard to these very matters increased the anxiety of the endangered woman, who saw not only her own life, but those dearest to her, seriously threatened.  So she entreated her hostess to relieve her from the uncertainty which was harder to endure than the most terrible reality; but the latter either could not or would not give her any further details of Cleopatra’s intentions, or the fate and present abode of her grandparents and Helena.  This increased her anxiety, for if Alexas’s information was correct, her family must be homeless.  When Charmian at last admitted that she had seen Dion only a few minutes, the tortured Barine’s power of quiet endurance gave way.