"The woman is Barine, the daughter of the artist Leonax." "Then you know already ?" asked the Macedonian in surprise.
"So it seems," answered Mardion, gazing into the girl's face with a significant glance.

Then, turning to her rather than to the Macedonian, he added, "I think we will have the young rascals set free and brought to Lochias with as little publicity as possible." "To the palace ?" asked the Macedonian.
"Of course," replied Iras firmly.

"Each to his own apartments, where they must remain until further orders." "Everything else must be deferred until after the reception," added the eunuch, and the Macedonian, with a slight, haughty nod, drew back.
"Another misfortune," sighed the eunuch.
"A boyish prank," Iras answered quickly, "but even a still greater misfortune is less than nothing so long as we are not conscious of it.
This unpleasant occurrence must be concealed for the present from the Queen.

Up to this time it is a vexation, nothing more--and it can and must remain so; for we have it in our power to uproot the poisonous tree whence it emanates." "You look as if no one could better perform the task," the Regent interrupted, with a side glance at the galley, "so you shall have the commission.

It is the last one I shall give, during the Queen's absence, in her name." "I shall not fail," she answered firmly.
When Iras again looked towards the landing-place she saw Archibius standing alone, with his eyes fixed upon the ground.