"The serpents which you command have powerful poisons and sharp fangs at their disposal; this time, however, they mistook their victim, and have sent a poor recluse of Serapis to Hades instead of one of their king's guests." "Your enigma is harder than ever," cried the king.

"My intelligence at least is unequal to solve it, and I must request you to speak in less dark language or else to explain your meaning." "Later, I will," said Publius emphatically, "but these things concern myself alone, and I stand here now commissioned by the State of Rome which I serve.

To-day Juventius Thalna will arrive here as ambassador from the Republic, and this document from the Senate accredits me as its representative until his arrival." Euergetes took the sealed roll which Publius offered to him.

While he tore it open, and hastily looked through its contents, the door was again thrown open and Hierax, the king's trusted friend, appeared on the threshold with a flushed face and hair in disorder.
"We have him!" he cried before he came in.

"He fell from his horse near Heliopolis." "Philometor ?" screamed Cleopatra, flinging herself upon Hierax.