On this, Heron had raved like a bull, had appealed to his Macedonian birth, his rights as a Roman citizen, and much besides, and demanded to know of what he was accused.
He was then informed that he was to be held in captivity by the special orders of the head of the police, till his son Alexander, who was guilty of high-treason, should surrender to the authorities.

But her master, said Dido, sobbing, had knocked down the man who had tried to bind him with a mighty blow of his fist.

At last there was a fearful uproar, and in fact a bloody fight.

The starling shouted his cry through it all, the birds fluttered and piped with terror, and it was like the abode of the damned in the nether world; and strangers came crowding about the house, till Skopas arrived and advised Heron to go with the Egyptian.
"But even at the door," Dido added, "he called out to me that you, Melissa, could remain with Polybius till he should recover his liberty.
Philip was to appeal for help to the prefect Titianus, and offer him the gems--you know them, he said.

And, last of all," and again she began to cry, "he especially commended to my care the tomb--and the birds; and the starling wants some fresh mealworms." Melissa heard with dismay; the color had faded from her cheeks, and as Dido ended she asked gloomily: "And Philip--and Alexander ?" "We have thought of everything," replied the old woman.