I expected it; for Cleopatra had long watched breathlessly the flight of this eagle who soared so far above the others, and she was strong enough to keep at his side.
"We succeeded in joining Cleopatra, and heard that, spite of the hostility of our citizens, Caesar had occupied the palace of the Ptolemies and was engaged in restoring order.
"We knew in what way Pothinus, Achillas, and Arsinoe would seek to influence him.

Cleopatra had good reason to fear that her foes might deliver Egypt unconditionally to Rome, if Caesar should leave the reins of government in their hands and shut her out.

She had cause to dread this, but she also had the courage to act in person in her own behalf.
"The point now was to bring her into the city, the palace-nay, into direct communication with the dictator.

Children tell the tale of the strong man who bore Cleopatra in a sack through the palace portals.

It was not a sack which concealed her, but a Syrian carpet.