Sleep had also fled from the couches of the occupants of the Sebasteum, the royal palace where Iras lived during the absence of the Queen, and the practorium, facing its southern front, which contained the official residence of the Regent.

When Archibius was conducted to the Queen’s waiting-woman, her appearance fairly startled him.  She had been his guest in Kanopus only the day before yesterday, and how great was the alteration within this brief time!  Her oval face seemed to have lengthened, the features to have grown sharper; and this woman of seven-and-twenty years, who had hitherto retained all the charms of youth, appeared suddenly to have aged a decade.  There was a feverish excitement in her manner, as, holding out her hand to her uncle, in greeting, she exclaimed hastily, “You, too, bring no good tidings?”

“Nor any evil ones,” he answered quietly.  “But, child, I do not like your appearance—­the dark circles under your keen eyes.  You have had news which rouses your anxiety?”

“Worse than that,” she answered in a low tone.

“Well?”

“Read!” gasped Iras, her lips and nostrils quivering as she handed Archibius a small tablet.  With a gesture of haste very unusual in him, he snatched it from her hand and, as his eyes ran over the words traced upon it, every vestige of colour vanished from his cheeks and lips.

They were written by Cleopatra’s own hand, and contained the following lines: 

“The naval battle was lost—­and by my fault.  The land forces might still save us, but not under his command.  He is with me, uninjured, but apparently exhausted; like a different being, bereft of courage, listless as if utterly crushed.  I foresee the beginning of the end.  As soon as this reaches you, arrange to have some unpretending litters ready for us every evening at sunset.  Make the people believe that we have conquered until trustworthy intelligence arrives concerning the fate of Canidius and the army.  When you kiss the children in my name, be very tender with them.  Who knows how soon they may be orphaned?  They already have an unhappy mother; may they be spared the memory of a cowardly one!  Trust no one except those whom I left in authority, and Archibius, not even Caesarion or Antyllus.  Provide for having every one whose aid may be valuable to me within reach when I come.  I cannot close with the familiar ’Rejoice’—­the ‘Fresh Courage’ placed on many a tombstone seems more appropriate.  You who did not envy me in my happiness will help me to bear misfortune.  Epicurus, who believes that the gods merely watch the destiny of men inactively from their blissful heights, is right.  Were it otherwise, how could the love and loyalty which cleave to the hapless, defeated woman, be repaid with anguish of heart and tears?  Yet continue to love her.”

Archibius, pale and silent, let the tablet fall.  It was long ere he gasped hoarsely:  “I foresaw it; yet now that it is here—­” His voice failed, and violent, tearless sobs shook his powerful frame.