One evening a splendidly uniformed division of Macedonian guard, led by one of the royal _somatophylakes_,[182] came with an empty chariot to the house of Cleomenes.

The request they bore was signed with the royal seal, and was politeness itself.

It overflowed with semi-Oriental compliment and laudation; but the purport was clear.

On account of the great danger in the city to foreigners from riots--ran the gist of the letter--and the extremely disturbed condition of the times, the king was constrained to request Cornelia and Fabia to take up their residence in the palace, where they could receive proper protection and be provided for in a princely manner, as became their rank.
[182] Commanders of the body-guard.
Cornelia had enough wisdom to see that only by taking the letter for the intentions written on its face could she submit to the implied command without loss of dignity.

She had much difficulty in persuading Fabia to yield; for the Vestal was for standing on her Roman prerogatives and giving way to nothing except sheer force.