You know that, nominally at least, she has to share her crown with young Ptolemaeus, her younger brother.

He is a worthless rascal, but his tutor, the eunuch Pothinus, really wields him.

Pothinus, as the custom is, was brought up with him as his playmate, and now Pothinus wants to drive out the queen, and rule Egypt through his power over the king.
His ambition is notorious, but the queen has not been able to lay hands on him for treason." Cleopatra and her fortunes and perils played a slight part in Cornelia's mind, however, that day.

To know Alexandria in its sunlight and shadows was indeed to know a miniature world.

First of all to notice, besides the heterogeneous nature of the crowds on the streets, was the fact that every person, high as well as low, was engaged in some trade.