Vexed, and yet endeavoring to keep his temper, he went to the window.  The sky was overcast, and a sharp wind from the sea drove the first rain-drops in his face.

In the wide square at his feet a spectacle presented itself which would have delighted him at another time, when in better spirits.

The younger men of the city—­as many as were of Greek extraction—­were trooping in.  They were divided into companies, according to the wrestling-schools or the Circus and other societies to which they belonged.  The youths marched apart from the married men, and one could see that they came gladly, and hoped for much enjoyment from the events of the day.  Some of the others looked less delighted.  They were unaccustomed to obey the orders of a despot, and many were ill-pleased to lose a whole day from their work or business.  But no one was permitted to absent himself; for, when the chief citizens had invited the emperor to visit their wrestling-schools, he replied that he preferred to inspect the entire male youths of Alexandria in the Stadium.  This was situated close by his residence in the Serapeum, and in this great space a spectacle would be afforded to him at one glance, which he could otherwise only enjoy by journeying laboriously from one gymnasium to another.  He loved the strong effects produced by great masses; and being on the race-course, the wrestlers and boxers, the runners and discus-throwers, could give proof of their strength, dexterity, and endurance.

It occurred to him at the moment that among these youths and men there might be some of the descendants of the warriors who, under the command of the great Alexander, had conquered the world.  Here, then, was an opportunity of gathering round him—­rejuvenated and, so to speak, born anew—­those troops who, under the guidance of the man whose mission on earth he was destined to accomplish, had won such deathless victories.  That was a pleasure he had every right to permit himself, and he wished to show to Melissa the re-created military forces of him to whom, in a former existence, as Roxana, she had been so dear.

Quick as ever to suit the deed to the word, he at once ordered the head citizens to assemble the youth of Alexandria on the morning of the day in question, and to form them into a Macedonian phalanx.  He wished to inspect them in the stadium, and they were now marching thither.

He had ordered helmets, shields, and lances to be made after well-known Macedonian patterns and to be distributed to the new Hellenic legion.  Later on they might be intrusted with the guarding of the city, should there be a Parthian war; and he required the attendance of the Alexandrian garrison.

The inspection of this Greek regiment would be certain to give pleasure to Melissa.  He expected, too, to see Alexander among them.  When once his beloved shared the purple with him, he could raise her brother to the command of this chosen phalanx.