And as the evening advanced, Cornelia found herself talking with more and more confidence to this woman that she had never addressed until an hour before.

Cleopatra of course knew, as all Alexandria knew, that Cornelia and Fabia were Roman ladies of the highest rank, who had been forced to take refuge abroad until the political crisis was over.

But now Cornelia told the queen the true reasons that had led her to be willing to submit to Demetrius's friendly kidnapping; and when, in a burst of frankness,--which in a saner moment Cornelia would have deemed unwise,--she told of her betrothal to Drusus and willingness to wait long for him, if they might only come together in the end, the queen seemed unable to speak with her usual bright vivacity.

Presently she said:-- "So you love this young man as none other?
You are willing to be all your life his handmaid, his slave ?" "I love him, assuredly," said Cornelia, with a little heat.

"And so far as being all my life his slave, I've given that never so much as a thought.