The blood had mounted to the man's face and eyes, and pressing his hand to his purple forehead he sank back in his chair as if stricken with apoplexy.

His daughter sprang up and offered him the cup full of wine and water which was standing on the table; but Keraunus pushed it aside with his hands, and panted out, while he struggled for breath: "Supersede me--in my place--turn me out of this palace! Why there, in that ebony trunk, lies the rescript of Euergetes which confers the stewardship of this residence on my ancestor Philip, and as a hereditary dignity in his family.

Now Philip's wife had the honor of being the king's mistress--or, as some say, his daughter.

There lies the document, drawn up in red and black ink on yellow papyrus and ratified with the seal and signature of Euergetes the Second.

All the princes of the Lagides have confirmed it, all the Roman prefects have respected it, and now--now." "But father" said the girl interrupting her father, and wringing her hands in despair, "you still hold the place and if you will only give in." "Give in, give in," shrieked the corpulent steward shaking his fat hands above his blood-shot face.