capable of abetting her licentious brother in forcibly
possessing himself of the innocent daughter of a noble father. He now
purposed to make her a present--as in some degree a substitute for
the representation his friend had projected, and which had come
to nothing--of the picture which she had hoped to find pleasure in
reproducing.

Cleopatra received him on her roof, a favor of which few could boast;
she allowed him to sit at her feet while she reclined on her couch, and
gave him to understand, by every glance of her eyes and every word she
spoke, that his presence was a happiness to her, and filled her with
passionate delight. Publius soon contrived to lead the conversation to
the subject of the innocent parents of the water-bearers, who had been
sent off to the goldmines; but Cleopatra interrupted his speech in their
favor and asked him plainly, undisguisedly, and without any agitation,
whether it was true that he himself desired to win the youthful Hebe.
And she met his absolute denial with such persistent and repeated
expressions of disbelief, assuming at last a tone of reproach, that he
grew vexed and broke out into a positive declaration that he regarded
lying as unmanly and disgraceful, and could endure any insult rather
than a doubt of his veracity.

Such a vehement and energetic remonstrance from a man she had
distinguished was a novelty to Cleopatra, and she did not take it amiss,
for she might now believe--what she much wished to believe--that Publius
wanted to have nothing to do with the fair Hebe, that Eulaeus had
slandered her friend, and that Zoe had been in error when, after
her vain expedition to the temple--from which she had then just
returned--she had told her that the Roman was Irene's lover, and must at
the earliest hour have betrayed to the girl herself, or to the priests
in the Serapeum, what was their purpose regarding her.

In the soul of this noble youth there was nothing false--there could be
nothing false! And she, who was accustomed never to hear a word from
the men who surrounded her without asking herself with what aim it was
spoken, and how much of it was dissimulation or downright falsehood,
trusted the Roman, and was so happy in her trust that, full of gracious
gaiety, she herself invited Publius to give her the recluse's petition
to read. The Roman at once gave her the roll, saying that since it
contained so much that was sad, much as he hoped she would make herself
acquainted w