easing.

She had gone every morning to Berenike to ask tidings of Dion's health,
and always brought favourable news. Anukis knew Philostratus and his
brother, too, and as she liked Antony, who jested with her so kindly,
she grieved to see an unprincipled fellow like Alexas his chief
confidant. She knew the plots with which the Syrian had persecuted
Barine, and when Charmian told her that the Queen had committed the
young beauty's fate to this man's keeping her dark face grew fairly
livid; but she forced herself to conceal the terror which the news
inspired. Her mistress was also aware what this choice meant to Barine.
But Anukis would have thought it wrong to disturb Charmian's sleep by
revealing her own distress. It was fortunate that she was going early
the next morning to seek the aid of Archibius, whom Anukis believed to
be the wisest of men; but this by no means soothed her. She knew the
fable of the lion and the mouse, which had been told in her home long
before the time of the author for whom she was nicknamed, and already
more than once she had been in a position to render far greater and more
powerful persons an important service. To soothe Charmian to sleep and
turn her thoughts in another direction, she told her about Dion, whom
she had found much better that day, how tenderly he seemed to love
Barine, and how touchingly patient and worthy of her father the daughter
of Leonax had been.

After her mistress had fallen asleep she went to the hall where, spite
of the late hour, she expected to meet some of the servants--sure of
being greeted as a welcome guest. When, a short time later, Alexas's
body-slave appeared, she filled his wire cup, sat down by his side, and
tried with all the powers at her command to win his confidence. And
so well did the elderly Nubian succeed that Marsyas, a handsome young
Ligurian, after she had gone, declared that Aisopion's jokes and stories
were enough to bring the dead to life, and it was as pleasant to talk
seriously with the brown-skinned monster as to dally with a fair-haired
sweetheart.

After Charmian had left the palace the following morning, Anukis again
sought Marsyas and learned from him for what purpose and at what hour
Iras had summoned Alexas. His master was continually whispering with the
languishing Macedonian.

When Anukis returned, Barine seemed troubled because she brought no
tidings from her mother and Dion; but the Nubian entreated her to have
patience, an