Now she is coming home with Proclus, and, as the way led through Pelusium, she attached herself to our friends and forces herself in here with them.  What does she care about her elderly travelling companion?  But you—­yes, you, Hermon—­are the next person whom she means to capture.  Just now, when my eyes closed But no!  It is not only in my dreams; the hideous gray threads which proceed from this greedy spider are continually floating before me and dim the light.”  Here she paused, for the maid Stephanion announced the coming of visitors, and at the same time loud voices were heard outside, and the merry party who had been attending the breakfast given by the commandant of Pelusium entered the tent.

Althea was among the guests, but she took little notice of Hermon.

Proclus, her associate in Queen Arsinoe’s favour, was again asserting his rights as her travelling companion, and she showed him plainly that the attention which he paid her was acceptable.

Meanwhile her eager, bright blue eyes were roving everywhere, and nothing that was passing around her escaped her notice.

As she greeted Daphne she perceived that her cheeks had flushed during her conversation with Hermon.

How reserved and embarrassed the sculptor’s manner was now to his uncle’s daughter, whom only yesterday he had treated with as much freedom as though she were his sister!  What a bungler in dissimulation! how short-sighted was this big, strong man and remarkable artist!  He had carried her, Althea, in his arms like a child for a whole quarter of an hour at the festival of Dionysus, and, in spite of the sculptor’s keen eye, he did not recognise her again!

What would not dyes and a change of manner accomplish!

Or had the memory of those mad hours revived and caused his embarrassment?  If he should know that her companion, the Milesian Nanno, whom he had feasted with her on oyster pasties at Canopus after she had given the slip to her handsome young companion was Queen Arsinoe!  Perhaps she would inform him of it some day if he recognised her.

Yet that could scarcely have happened.  He had only been told what she betrayed to him yesterday, and was now neglecting her for Daphne’s sake.  That was undoubtedly the way the matter stood.  How the girl’s cheeks were glowing when she entered!

The obstacle that stood between her and Hermon was the daughter of Archias, and she, fool that she was, had attracted Hermon’s attention to her.

No matter!

He would want her for the Arachne, and she needed only to stretch out her hand to draw him to her again if she found no better amusement in Alexandria.  Now she would awaken his fears that the best of models would recall her favour.  Besides, it would not do to resume the pleasant game with him under the eyes of Philippus and his wife, who was a follower of the manners of old times.  The right course now was to keep him until later.