“Credit her?” repeated Dion, shrugging his shoulders.  “I only transport myself in imagination to the court and to the soul of the woman who helps make rain and sunshine there.  You have columns rounded and beams hewed that they may afterwards support the roof to which in due time you wish to direct attention.  She and all who have a voice in the management of court affairs look first at the roof and then seek anything to raise and support it, though it should be corpses, ruined lives, and broken hearts.  The point is that the roof shall stand until the architect, the Queen, sees and approves it.  As to the rest—­But there is the carriage—­It doubtless brings—­You were—­”

He paused, laid his hand on his friend’s arm, and whispered hastily:  “Iras is undoubtedly at the bottom of this, and it is not Antyllus, but yonder dreaming lad, for whom she is moving.  When she spoke of the statues just now, she asked in the same breath where I had seen him on the evening of the day before yesterday, and that was the very time he called on Barine.  The plot was made by her, and Iras is doing all the work.  The mouse is not caught while the trap is closed, and she is just raising her little hand to open it.”

“If only she does not use some man’s hand,” replied the architect wrathfully, and then turned towards the carriage and the elderly man who had just left it, and was now approaching the two friends.

CHAPTER II.

When Caesarion’s companion reached Dion and Gorgias, the former modestly made a movement to retire.  But Archibius was acquainted with both, and begged him to remain.  There was an air of precision and clearness in the voice and quiet movements of this big, broad-shouldered man, with his robust frame and well-developed limbs.  Though only a few years beyond forty, not merely his grey hair but the calm, impressive dignity of his whole manner indicated a more advanced age.

“The young King yonder,” he began in a deep, musical voice, motioning towards the equipage, “wished to speak to you here in person, Gorgias, but by my advice he refrained from mingling with the crowd.  I have brought him hither in a closed carriage.  If the plan suits you, enter it and talk with him while I keep watch here.  Strange things seem to be occurring, and yonder—­or am I mistaken?  Has the monster dragged along there any connection with the twin statues of the Queen and her friend?  Was it you who selected that place for them?”

“No,” replied the architect.  “The order was issued over my head and against my will.”

“I thought so,” replied the other.  “This is the very matter of which Caesarion wishes to speak.  If you can prevent the erection of the statues on Didymus’s land, so much the better.  I will do everything in my power to aid you, but in the Queen’s absence that is little.”

“Then what can be said of my influence?” asked the architect.  “Who, in these days, knows whether the sky will be blue or grey to-morrow?  I can guarantee one thing only:  I will do my best to prevent this injury of an estimable citizen, interference with the laws of our city, and violation of good taste.”