“My father said that the blood of Physkon and other degenerate ancestors, who had not learned to control their passions, was asserting itself in her also.  But I must continue my story, or the messenger will interrupt me too soon.

“Gabinius was bringing back the King.  But from the time of his approach with the Roman army and the auxiliary troops of the Ethnarch of Judea, nothing more was learned of him or of Antipater, who commanded the forces of Hyrkanus; every one talked constantly of the Roman general Antony.  He had led the troops successfully through the deserts between Syria and the Egyptian Delta without losing a single man on the dangerous road by the Sirbonian Sea and Barathra, where many an army had met destruction.  Not to Antipater, but to him, had the Jewish garrison of Pelusium surrendered their city without striking a blow.  He had conquered in two battles; and the second, where, as you know, Berenike’s husband fell after a brave resistance, had decided the destiny of the country.

“From the time his name was first mentioned, neither of the girls could hear enough about him.  It was said that he was the most aristocratic of aristocratic Romans, the most reckless of the daring, the wildest of the riotous, and the handsomest of the handsome.

“The waiting-maid from Mantua, with whom Cleopatra practised speaking the Roman language, had often seen him, and had heard of him still more frequently—­for his mode of life was the theme of gossip among all classes of Roman men and women.  His house was said to have descended in a direct line from Hercules, and his figure and magnificent black beard recalled his ancestor.  You know him, and know that the things reported of him are those which a young girl cannot hear with indifference, and at that time he was nearly five lustra younger than he is to-day.

“How eagerly Arsinoe listened when his name was uttered!  How Cleopatra flushed and paled when Timagenes condemned him as an unprincipled libertine!  True, Antony was opening her father’s path to his home.

“The flute-player had not forgotten his daughters.  He had remained aloof from the battle, but as soon as the victory was decided, he pressed on into the city.

“The road led past our garden.

“The King had barely time to send a runner to his daughters, fifteen minutes before his arrival, to say that he desired to greet them.  They were hurriedly attired in festal garments, and both presented an appearance that might well gladden a father’s heart.

“Cleopatra was not yet as tall as Arsinoe, but, though only fourteen, she looked like a full-grown maiden, while her sister’s face and figure showed that in years she was still a child.  But she was no longer one in heart.  Bouquets for the returning sovereign had been arranged as well as haste permitted.  Each one of the girls held one in her hand when the train approached.

“My parents accompanied them to the garden gate.  I could see what was passing, but could hear distinctly only the voices of the men.